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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1858 asked in the Legislative Council on 12 February 2019 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Question Directed to the: Parliamentary Secretary representing the Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 2496- View tabled paper


Question

I refer to the provision of midwifery services in regional Western Australia, and I ask:
(a) at what WA Country Health Service (WACHS) locations are midwifery services offered;
(b) what is the budgeted FTE by WACHS location for midwifery services;
(c) in the last 12 months how many midwifery positions have been advertised by WACHS and their respective locations;
(d) of those identified in (c), how many were unable to be filled as a result of the recruitment process;
(e) what was the reason for each vacancy that remained unfilled; and
(f) what is the projected demand for midwives by WACHS?

Answered on 19 March 2019

I am advised:

(a)-(e) Please see tabled paper no.

(f) WA Country Health Service (WACHS) have experienced a decline in birth numbers in the last three years of around 15% (consistent with metropolitan Perth). The current budgeted midwifery FTE is appropriate to projected service demand using traditional midwifery rostering models which include nursing duties when no midwifery activity.

The contemporary caseload midwifery rostering model (versus the traditional model of having a midwife rostered every shift whether there is midwifery activity or not) means WACHS is able to respond to the unpredictable peak and troughs of midwifery / maternity activity demands using less midwifery FTE, as midwives are able to respond via flexible work arrangements and on call as the unpredictable timing of labour and birth demands.