Maternity wards hit by shortage of midwives

An Auckland midwife says she is turning away tearful, pregnant women as the staffing crisis hits Auckland.

Midwife Paddy Hughes said she had turned away more pregnant women than she had accepted in recent months because her books were full.

Some of those women are in tears because they can’t find a midwife, she said.

‘‘I stopped counting at the 40 people I turned down last year.’’

A nationwide midwife shortage is squeezing Auckland, with 30 midwife vacancies across the city’s maternity wards.

North Shore Hospital was lacking 11 fulltime midwives while Waita¯kere Hospital was down seven, according to data released under the Official Information Act.

Auckland District Health Board had 12.4 vacancies as of February 1.

Hughes said Auckland City Hospital had ‘‘chronic issues’’ with staffing.

‘‘It just seems to be getting worse and worse,’’ Hughes said.

She ‘‘suspected’’ the same issues were happening in Waitemata¯ DHB hospitals because of the population increase.

The New Zealand College of Midwives has warned of an ‘‘unfolding crisis in New Zealand’s midwifery workforce’’.

‘‘We are hearing an increasing number of stories from around the country of severe shortages as midwives continue to leave the profession,’’ chief executive Karen Guilliland said.

‘‘We can now see a pattern confirming that this is a service in crisis.’’

Waitemata¯ DHB director of hospital services Cath Cronin said a strategy was in place to minimise the impact of current vacancies to ensure women were well-supported. This included utilising midwives on casual contracts, implementing a nurse/ midwife model of care and

‘‘It just seems to be getting worse and worse’’

Midwife Paddy Hughes

employing a midwifery clinical coach to support staff.

Auckland DHB chief executive Ailsa Claire said bureau midwives and nurses filled gaps in their rosters.

‘‘The commitment of our staff means that we continue to deliver safe and high-quality care to our mothers and babies,’’ Claire said.

The College of Midwives was pushing for the Government to increase resourcing for midwives, including fair and gender equal pay money .

SUPPLIED New Zealand College of Midwives chief executive Karen Guilliland says midwifery is a ‘‘service in crisis’’.