INMO Welcomes Launch Of National Maternity Strategy 2016 – 2026
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) warmly welcomes the launch today, by Minister for Health, Mr Leo Varadkar TD, of the country’s first National Maternity Strategy “Creating a Better Future Together” for the period 2016-2026.
The Midwives Section, of the INMO, particularly welcomes the recognition, within the strategy, of the need to give pregnant women appropriate and informed choices, supported by access to the correct level of care and support for their individual needs.
Our midwife membership also welcomes the recognition, within the strategy, of the role of midwives, in the natural childbirth experience. In particular, we welcome the recognition of midwives leading and delivering care within the multi-disciplinary framework for delivering the care pathway intended for normal risk mothers and babies (Supported Care).
The Organisation also fully endorses the recommendations, within the strategy, for the development of a community midwifery service. This development, which will see hospital midwives coming out into the community, to provide ante-natal and post-natal care, will represent a hugely positive development, for mothers and babies bringing the service to them rather than requiring them to come into a hospital for care and support.
The INMO notes the intention to establish a National Women and Infants Health Programme to drive forward on implementing the strategy over the coming years. The Organisation looks forward, to working with this programme, to implement, in the shortest possible timeframe, all of the recommendations itemised leading to a positive transformation of this country’s maternity services.
In the immediate short term the INMO will now seek a meeting with the Department of Health. This will be for the purpose of agreeing the necessary measures, particularly with regard to workforce planning, including an analysis of training needs, necessary to ensure we will have the additional midwives required to facilitate the full implementation of this strategy.
Speaking today INMO Executive Council member and member of the Maternity Strategy Steering Group, Mary Gorman, said:
“This strategy, which was formulated after detailed discussions/debates, involving all partners in maternity care, represents a step change in our approach to pregnancy and childbirth. The recommendations place the mother and child, at the centre of all services, and will require all members of the multi-disciplinary team to alter existing approaches to facilitate new models of care totally sympathetic to the mother and new-born baby”.
Speaking this afternoon INMO General Secretary, Liam Doran, said:
“The INMO acknowledges the dedicated work, of the steering group, leading to the launch, today, of this forward looking strategy. The INMO, and particularly our Midwives Section, commits itself to work with all concerned to deliver upon the strategy’s recommendations. The collective goal must be to ensure excellent standards of care, in the environment chosen by the mother, based upon their needs and preferences.
The recognition of the role of midwives, within the new pathways of care, is very welcome. Our midwife members look forward to embracing this change and providing these new models of care and choice for women”.