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In 2016, as part of a package of statewide health reforms, the North West Integrated Maternity Services (NWIMS) was implemented. This heralded a reconfiguration of public maternity services across the region, including all inpatient services being concentrated to one site, the North West Private Hospital and a Midwifery Group Practice established.
An Independent Review of the Quality, Safety and Management of the North West Maternity Services was commissioned in November 2020 and the final report on the Review is being released today.
Over 60 individuals, from both private and public settings, participated in the review and contributed and engaged fully with the Review Panel.
Participants provided critical feedback and information on the operation of the North West Maternity Services, fundamental to developing the recommendations.
The Review identified 15 recommendations for the future provision of North West Maternity Services, covering 6 categories of Governance, Leadership, Workforce, Education and Training, Workplace Culture and Clinical Services.
The first and main recommendation is that all public maternity services should move to a single governance structure and that this is best placed under the governance of the Tasmanian Health Service.
Many of the recommendations will take time to implement with others given high priority for commencement within six months.
We will engage and involve all affected stakeholders in the implementation planning and will seek input as we move forward with implementation.
Full details of all recommendations are available in the Independent Review of Quality, Safety and Management in the North West Maternity Services Final Report.