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The New South Wales (NSW) government has today released its to the of the NSW Select Committee on Birth Trauma which was published in May 2024.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (mini��ý���; the College) reiterates its support for the vast majority of the Committee’s recommendations, particularly those in favour of ensuring better investment in the GP-Obstetrician workforce, advocacy for improved Medicare rebates, and the broad range of recommendations favouring enhancing educational resources for patients and expanding training opportunities for practitioners.

However, the Government’s response falls short of acknowledging or appreciating the importance of specialists in multi-disciplinary care which is crucial to achieving the best possible outcomes for birthing women and their families.

The College is particularly concerned about the prioritisation of a midwifery-led model of care that is supported in the government’s response. Whilst midwives are vital members of a maternal health care team, a broader multi-disciplinary approach must be retained to ensure the provision of holistic care which all maternity disciplines contribute.

“Each woman’s birthing experience is unique, and no single discipline can address the diverse needs of both mother and baby in every situation. Ignoring this reality can compromise patient safety and overlook the need for emergency interventions when they arise,” said Dr Gillian Gibson, mini��ý��� President.

Whilst most births are without complication, only a truly multidisciplinary approach can provide the full breadth of care that may be required during different birthing scenarios and is crucial to overcoming the systemic challenges which contribute to incidences of birth trauma. Working together across health professions provides the best opportunity to improve antenatal and postnatal care, patient education and support, and provider training.

Dr Gibson asserted, “Collaboration between all maternity providers – including specialists, GP obstetricians, and midwives – is vital to reducing incidences of birth trauma, without compromising on our ability to respond to different birthing scenarios and provide the holistic, multidisciplinary care women and their families may require.”

Models of maternity care also must consider availability of resources in different locations. The New South Wales government heard recently about the myriad challenges in accessing midwifery and maternal care, presented by the College at a public hearing held by the Select Committee on Rural, Remote and Regional Health. Prioritising one health profession over a multidisciplinary approach is likely to pose further challenges to access and therefore cannot be the solution to reducing incidences of birth trauma.

mini��ý��� agrees that investment in education for women, their families and practitioners is essential in addressing this problem. Education must be trauma informed and examine the full breadth of factors which play into effective shared decision making and what to expect in an obstetric emergency.

mini��ý��� is committed to co-designing such education and looks forward to further discussions with the Government to continue work on improving education and training to prevent birth trauma. The College is scheduled to meet with the office of the Honourable Ryan Park, Minister for Health New South Wales and welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the recommendations.

For media enquiries
Bec McPhee
Head of Advocacy & Communications
bmcphee@ranzcog.edu.au
+61 413 258 166