Category Archives: childbirth and maternity services

Beyond the headlines in maternity care

March 25, 2009 – 4:26 pm

A study comparing outcomes for public and private hospital births was published in the Medical Journal of Australia in February.
It attracted dramatic headlines. “Public hospital births double risk for mother and baby, says report,” said the Age. “Babies die less often in private hospitals,” said the Australian. “Private hospital births safer than public: study,” from [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Media-related issues, evidence-based issues | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

Some good news in Aboriginal health

March 8, 2009 – 7:34 pm

Dr Jon Hunt commented on a recent post that asked for suggestions for news stories in Aboriginal health. He suggested the  Anangu Bibi birthing project would be worth a story. Croakey asked him to elaborate:
“It was based in Port Augusta and Whyalla which are two medium sized towns in South Australia which have a high [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Indigenous health, rural and remote health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Will the maternity services report make a difference?

February 25, 2009 – 10:59 am

Caroline Homer, Professor of Midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney, comments on the new report:
“It is an exciting time to be part of Australian maternity services! The key recommendations of the Report of the Maternity Services Review, commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, are exciting and encouraging and pave the way [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in health reform | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

More on medical turf wars

January 15, 2009 – 6:04 pm

Some interesting responses to my Crikey story today about the AMA and turf wars:
John Menadue, Centre for Policy Development:
For years, it has been clear to me that there is widespread agreement in the ‘health industry’ about the need for reform. That widespread agreement covers such issues as the priority for primary care, the fragmentation of [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in health reform, primary health care, rural and remote health | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Unintended consequences and the baby bonus

January 9, 2009 – 11:25 am

It’s entirely understandable that politicians and bureaucrats are keen to sell new policies that they’re developing or implementing. They want to persuade us, and perhaps even themselves, that they’re doing the right thing.
But perhaps there should be a mandatory step in the process: to insist that the question be asked of any new program or [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in health reform, rural and remote health | Tagged , , | Comments (3)