This presentation will discuss the setting up of a birthing facility for low risk women in a rural town in North Queensland.. For the past ten years the Ingham Community has been campaigning for a local facility after losing their birthing service. Present facilities neither meet the needs of the local community, are woman centred or sustainable for the future.
The current service will be redeveloped to include planned low risk birthing for women who meet eligibility criteria by the Australian College of Midwives. Caseload midwives will provide all risk antenatal and postnatal care but those classified as moderate to high risk will travel to Townsville for birth as this is the nearest tertiary facility.
This discussion will consider the benefits of a local birthing service for the women of Ingham as well as the future sustainability of such a service.
