Queen Mary maternity extending care to the community
A new Queen Mary community service for pregnant women is reaching women who are unable to find a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) for their care during pregnancy, birth and postnatally.
“A reduction in the LMC workforce in Dunedin has meant that some women have been unable to find a midwife and this service fills the gap,” says Fiona Thompson, Charge Midwife Manager Queen Mary Maternity.
“Two Queen Mary midwives provide the care, and presently we have between 80 and 90 women accessing this community outreach service.”
The service is available between 8am and 4.30pm seven days a week and provides antenatal and postnatal care, including home visits. Labour and birth care is still provided through core Queen Mary midwives.
“Through this outreach service we’re able to improve continuity of care, we can do home visits and we’ve improved our ability to meet complex needs.
“We’re hoping the LMC workforce will increase, but in the interim we’re pleased to be able to provide maternity care to local women who can’t find a LMC through this service,” says Fiona.
Women needing a midwife should access the find your midwife website - https://www.findyourmidwife.co.nz as the first place to look for an available midwife.
