Small Maternity Units

December 8, 2005

Low risk pregnant women can now be reassured that giving birth in small maternity units in Australia is safe, following the publication of a landmark study by Associate Professor Sally Tracy and others in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: “Does size matter? A population-based study of birth in lower volume maternity hospitals for low risk women”.

The study found that low risk women having babies in maternity units with less than 100 births a year had significantly fewer inductions, epidurals, forceps/vacuum births, emergency caesareans and babies being admitted to a neonatal unit, compared with low risk women giving birth in maternity units with greater than 2000 births a year.

‘It is clear that in Australia, a lower hospital volume is not associated with adverse outcomes for low risk women and their babies’ Associate Professor Tracy said, ‘in fact, it appears these women are better off. They have more normal births and lower levels of intervention in the birth. There is plenty of research to say this is a good thing.’

‘This is important evidence for Australia, which has seen the closure of more than 120 rural and remote maternity units over the last 10 years’ said Dr Sue Kildea Vice President of CRANA. ‘Women want to be able to have their babies closer to home and now we have Australian evidence to show that it can be done safely’. ‘This is great news for remote Australians who are keen to see the re-establishment of birthing services in their home communities. Surely we can now progress towards comprehensive birthing services for low risk women in remote Australia, particularly for Indigenous women who have been requesting these services for many years’.

This study confirms the findings of the recent Queensland review into maternity services, and other national and international recommendations, that support birthing in rural and remote areas.

CRANA is currently working with other peak organisations to develop a national framework for rural and remote maternity services across Australia. ‘We need Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to work together and support this national approach’.

Contact:
Dr Sue Kildea
Vice President CRANA
0418 289 199