ABC News Jan 27, 2008
A Darwin based-academic says a maternity model in Queensland could be adopted to remote areas in the Northern Territory, making it easier for mothers to have babies in the bush.
A midwifery-led unit was formed in a far north Queensland community because of a lack of doctors.
The unit allows pregnant women with low risk of complications to have their babies closer to home, while women facing higher risks are sent to the Cairns Hospital.
Associate professor of Midwifery at Charles Darwin University Sue Kildea says that model could work in the Territory.
"We've seen that it can be [successful] in other places around Australia, where they're starting to get midwifery models of care up and running," she said.
"New Zealand has fabulous midwifery models of care across the whole rural and remote and urban settings, so I don't see why it wouldn't be sustainable.
"I think it would probably draw midwives back into the profession."
Article from www.abc.net.au/news