Poots Emphasises Importance Of Midwifery

Edwin Poots has told an all-Ireland midwifery conference he is committed to "ensuring the provision of safe, sustainable, high quality maternity services."

The Health Minister was speaking at the Conference; "Every Pregnant Woman Needs a Midwife and Some Need a Doctor Too".

He said: "Everyone at some time or another will come into contact with maternity services and the standard of care provided to families is very close to everyone’s hearts. I am proud to say that the professionalism and dedication of our maternity staff in Northern Ireland is of the highest standard.

"This conference highlights the wide range of issues facing all of the professionals involved in delivering maternity care in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Midwives have a key role to play as the lead professional for many women and in ensuring there is robust partnership working for those with more complex needs."

The Deparment of Health recently undertook a review of the maternity services entitled the Maternity Strategy.

He added: "Like all healthcare specialities, maternity services are constantly evolving and we need to move with the times. The Maternity Strategy emphasises the need to place women in control of their pregnancy and support them to make informed choices to secure the best outcome for mother and baby."

Minister Poots said he wanted to see "a balance of local and centralised services that will best serve the women of Northern Ireland.

"I want pregnant women to have greater choice of where to give birth and for the highest quality care to be provided closer to home, tailored to meet the needs of the individual woman. Midwives have a major role in this change especially in being the first contact for women."

(IT)