Western Sydney University experts commend NSW Government’s response to Birth Trauma Inquiry
Leading midwifery experts from Western Sydney University have welcomed the NSW Government’s response to the Birth Trauma inquiry released today. They emphasise the importance of acknowledging the experiences of women and ensuring maternity services provide respectful, evidence-based and equitable maternity care to women and their families.
Dr Hazel Keedle and Professor Hannah Dahlen from the University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery and Translational Health Research Institute, were key contributors to the inquiry through their groundbreaking research. Their study (opens in a new window), utilising data from the national Australian Birth Experience Study (BESt), revealed that more than one-in-ten Australian women feel they have experienced some form of obstetric violence, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reform in maternity care. In NSW they found 28 per cent of women surveyed had experienced birth trauma.
Dr Hazel Keedle, a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery, Director of Academic Programs for Midwifery and lead of the Birth Experience Study-International Collaboration, said:
"Both in the Australian Birth Experience Study and through the submissions and hearings of the NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry, women were clear on what contributed to their birth trauma and what they found helped them heal. At the centre of what women want from maternity services is trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, maternity care led by a midwife.”
“Midwifery leadership is needed at all levels and should be driven by a Chief Midwife, not an advisory role to a Chief Nurse and Midwife, to ensure maternity care is a priority area within NSW Health.
“Moving forward it is essential that there is close monitoring of the continued implementation of the Blueprint for Action – Maternity Care in NSW strategy to ensure it is addressing preventable birth trauma and providing maternity services that are evidence-based and meet the wishes and needs of women and their families across NSW."
Professor of Midwifery, Hannah Dahlen AM, Associate Dean Research and HDR and co-investigator on the Birth Experience Study in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, said:
“We are being offered the opportunity in NSW to lead the world in making sure the care we give to childbearing women and their families is humanised and safe. Over 4000 women, clinicians and stakeholders have told us how to do this and now it is imperative we act. This has been the ‘MeToo’ moment for birth. We must act now, and we must act together.”
“Health care providers need to accept their responsibility and duty of care when it comes to preventing birth trauma. We know we as care providers we are a large part of this problem and it is time we admitted that, said ‘sorry’ and learnt from women how to be better. Together, women, clinicians and government can get this right. The evidence of how much women actually matter to this government will be seen in the commitment we now see to changes in health care delivery and the determination of government to make sure those changes are prioritised and supported into the future.”
ENDS
29 August 2024
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