Liberals dropping the ball on midwifery

No evidence of action to move program forward

HALIFAX– A Freedom of Information request received by the NDP Caucus shows that while the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and IWK Health Centre have been designated to lead provincial planning for midwifery, there is no record of communication between the Department of Health and Wellness and the NSHA with regard to midwifery.

“Midwifery care is a key part of primary health care delivery, and right now, it is inaccessible to most people who need it in Nova Scotia,” said Martin. “If maternal and pre-natal care is a priority for the Liberal government, why is there no evidence of action?"

There are only ten midwives working province-wide. According to some midwives, the current program is unsustainable and needs more staffing and funding to expand. However, as another Freedom of Information request revealed, the NSHA and IWK “have not involved actual midwives up to this point” in work to strengthen primary care and newborn care.

"In order to meet the needs of women and families and ensure survival of the profession, we need to increase the number of midwives in our province," said Maren Dietze, a member of the Association of Nova Scotia Midwives. "There is a lack of transparency about where funding for more midwifery positions is coming from, and how decisions about these positions are being made."

Last week, the Midwifery Coalition of Nova Scotia launched the Purple Postcard Campaign to advocate for equitable access to midwifery services, using the hashtag #WheresMyMidwifeNS.

“Investment to expand midwifery services is long overdue in Nova Scotia,” said Martin. “As with many aspects of our health care system, this is a case of the Liberals dropping the ball.”

The full FOIPOP can be found at https://foipop.novascotia.ca/foia/views/_AttachmentDownload.jsp?attachmentRSN=3531

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