Better health and ageing for all Australians

Improving Maternity Services in Australia

The Report of the Maternity Services Review

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Report of the Maternity Services Review February 2009
ISBN: 1-74186-833-5
Online ISBN: 1-74186-834-3
Publications Number: P3-4946

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Table of Contents
Improving Maternity Services in Australia
  Foreword
  Introduction
  Key Issues for the Maternity Services Review
   1. Safety and Quality
   2. Access to a Range of Models of Care
   3. Inequality of Outcomes and Access
    3.1 Rural
    3.2 Indigenous
   4. Information and Support for Women and Their Families
   5. The Maternity Workforce
   6. Financing Arrangements
    6.1 Commonwealth Funding
    6.2 Professional Indemnity
  Next Steps: Developing a National Plan
  Figures
   Figure 1: Number of women who die in childbirth, Australia, 1991-2006
   Figure 2: Number of infant deaths to one year of age, Australia, 1996-2006, 5-yearly
   Figure 3: Perinatal mortality, international comparison, 1996-2006
   Figure 4: Maternal mortality, international comparison, 1996-2006
   Figure 5: Rates of caesarean sections by hospital sector, Australia, 1991-2006
   Figure 6: Rates of caesarean section by hospital, New South Wales, 2005
   Figure 7: Homebirths, Australia, 1991-2006
   Figure 8: Hospitals and birth centres, by number of women who gave birth, Australia, 1991, 1999 and 2006
   Figure 9: Breastfeeding: the first 12 months
   Figure 10: Indicative maternity services workforce
   Figure 11: Obstetric benefits under Medicare, 2007-08
   Figure 12: Obstetric benefits under Medicare, 2007-08
  Tables
   Table 1: Women who gave birth, by place of birth, 2006
   Table 2: Models of maternity care
  Attachments
   Attachment A - Summary of Recommendations
   Attachment B - The Consultation Process
  References