The Victorian Government has announced the establishment of a new Ministerial Committee that will be responsible for advising on ways to improve healthcare for women and newborns in Victoria.

 

The Ministerial Perinatal Services Advisory Committee will be established in early 2012 on the recommendations of the Auditor-General’s report into Victoria’s maternity services.

 

The Auditor-General made six key recommendations to improve maternity services in Victoria, all of which have been accepted by the State Department of Health.

 

The six recommendations made by the Auditor-General are:

  1. That the Department of Health improve its understanding and planning of maternity services by:
    • routinely measuring and monitoring maternity service capacity
    • documenting a work plan for the Capability Framework for Victorian Maternity and Newborn Services which clearly articulates how it will address gaps and issues identified
    • establishing an advisory committee with external health sector and consumer representatives
  2. That the Department of Health focuses on improving access to maternity services in growth areas.
  3. That the Department of Health prioritises its work with the Commonwealth to improve access to antenatal care.
  4. That the Department of Health provides information in relevant community languages, made available through general practitioners and hospitals, that informs women on how to navigate the maternity system, the range of maternity services options and likely costs.
  5. That the Department of Health requires health services to monitor and report their progress in improving continuity of  care on an ongoing basis.
  6. That health services systematically evaluate targeted programs for vulnerable women to assess whether they are meeting objectives. 

The full report can be found here