A group of maternity care consumers are banding together to close the gap in access to midwifery in northern Alberta.
The groups from Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Peace River intend to urge the Minister of Health and Alberta Health Services to provide equal funding to midwifery services across the province.
In May of 2017, the government committed almost $13 million to midwifery without any new money going to the North Zone.
Currently three mid-wives practice in the North Zone, there are two in Lac La Biche and one in Peace River.
Jennifer Stephenson, Chair of Wood Buffalo Woman and Baby Care Association that there is a significant public demand for midwifery in our region.
“Our community in Wood Buffalo has one of the highest birth rates in Alberta. It is difficult to recruit specialized care to the northern regions, which results in a shortage of obstetrical services. Expectant mothers are faced with long wait times in obstetrician offices and have little option other than to travel out of the region for other choices of care. Our current specialists are over-extended and the addition of midwifery services to accept some of the low-risk pregnancies would help to alleviate this burden,” said Stephenson.
Stephenson said they recognize the fundamental challenge of scarce funding for midwifery services and the hurdles faced through AHS’ North Zone, including recruitment, retention, integration and cost of living.
The three groups are gathering as much information as possible before addressing the Health Minister.
