Campaign to expand Tweed home birthing services grows

WOMEN in the Tweed are campaigning for the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) to establish a publicly funded homebirth program (PHFB) as part of its soon-to-be finalised birthing services review.

Despite a successful program for over 10 years through the Byron Bay Midwifery Group Practice, most women in the Tweed do not have access.

Local women and Homebirth NSW have written to NNSWLHD and local MPs urging them to expand. Member for Tweed Geoff Provest MP has written to the NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park, expressing his support for the campaign.

Park acknowledged the differing access to homebirth across the district and said the government was actively working to address the situation.

A spokesperson for NNSWLHD said it was committed to continually improving maternity services.

“We understand the community’s interest in accessing a range of birthing options, including publicly funded home birth,” the spokesperson said.

“NNSWLHD plans and provides maternity services and models of care according to local population needs, including birth numbers and availability of staff.

“Home Birth NSW aims to have more PHFBs to increase access and affordability of homebirth.

“We are currently reviewing our maternity services to evaluate the effectiveness of care models and ensure they continue to meet the unique needs of our growing community,” they said.

Ballina-based doula and childbirth educator Fiona O’Shaughnessy said the program’s eligibility depended on a woman’s postcode.

“Because the program is linked to Tweed, if there is a requirement to transfer, or a mother is ‘risked out’ for any reason, the requirement is to go to Tweed Hospital,” she said.

“It’s also about how close the midwives are. They need to be able to get to patients within 20-30 minutes and be 20-30 minutes from Tweed Hospital by ambulance.

“If you live in Goonellabah, Alstonville, Lismore, you would not be eligible, nor if you lived in Wardell, Murwillumbah, Burringbar, and parts of the Tweed.”

According to NSW Health, the number of women in NSW who planned a homebirth increased by 200 per cent data between 2020 and 2022.

The recent NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry recommended the expansion of publicly funded homebirth programs in NSW, considering the ‘urgent efforts’ required to ‘address avoidable and preventable factors that contribute to birth trauma.

Homebirth NSW President Katelyn Commerford said the NNSWLHD maternity services review was almost complete.

“We have followed up with the Northern NSW Nursing and Midwifery Director to find out where the review is at and whether there is further opportunity for consultation with us and the community, but are yet to hear back,” she said.