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Disgruntled GPs and Midwives Squabble over Maternity Care.

by Medindia Content Team on Jul 6 2006 12:59 PM

New Zealand: Though there have been improvements in maternity care, specifically to section 88 of the contract, yet it is considered inadequate, due to which expectant mothers prefer care of midwives over general practitioners. Proposed changes to maternity-care funding do not go far enough in bringing pregnant women back to family doctors, GPs say.

Peter Foley, of the New Zealand Medical Association's GP council, said "They are not seeing their own GP and practice nurse because they're off seeing the midwife, and then they turn up six or 10 weeks after with this baby."

The most recent figures speak of a 78% enrolment of expectant mothers’ with midwives, as their primary caregivers. The number of midwives who undertook maternity care was 2560 as compared to 100 GP’s, last year.

It is imperative to ensure cooperation between GP’s and mid wives so that pregnant women can avail the best possible care under the GP’s, not having to pay more for less.

The maternity care contract with amendments is slated to be out in 2007.


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