Midwives nationwide protests today: 'Isolation, burnout and attrition' spurs Health Minister to promise package to start addressing midwives issues

Midwives will be met on the steps of Parliament by the Health Minister today, and are expected to turn out in droves as they march around the country to campaign for better pay and working conditions. 

Protests are to be held in Wellington, where a petition will be handed to Parliament at midday, Auckland, Dunedin, Tauranga, Taupo and Hamilton. 

Minister of Health Dr David Clark said today he will meet the midwives on the steps of Parliament. 

Dr Clark revealed the upcoming Budget on May 17 will "include a package to start addressing the issues facing midwives", but he could give no further details. 

"Too many of our midwives are stretched beyond capacity, there are issues of professional isolation, burnout and attrition," Mr Clark said.

"This is not just a pay issue. There is more work to be done looking at hours of work, caseloads and how midwives can work more closely with the wider Primary Care sector."

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will be speaking at the Wellington event today. 

The Ministry of Health also responded to the marches, saying it is working with the NZ College of Midwives "together with urgency on a maternity programme designed to address current pressure on the midwifery-led service". 

NZ College of Midwives chief executive Karen Guilliland said she was "pleased that the issues raised by the current workforce shortage will be prioritised for resolution; for example, continuing to provide rural primary maternity service provision in all areas".  

Midwife Laura Cox spoke this morning on TVNZ 1's Breakfast to explain their demands .

"In the Waikato region there are 30 to 40 midwives that have left in the last six months," Ms Cox said.

"We have worked ourselves to the bone and tried to keep as quiet as possible because we don't want to alarm the public but this is a crisis point."