Orange Hospital and Bathurst Hospital are planning to implement a new model of public maternity care for pregnant women in Orange and Bathurst. The new models of care aim to support continuity of care and improve the experiences, health and wellbeing for women and their babies.

Midwifery continuity of care models offer a women-centred, individualised, and evidence-based approach, which has been shown to highly improve patient experiences. Continuity of midwifery care models have been widely recognised and supported by research as contributing to improved outcomes for both mothers and babies.

About the models of care

Orange and Bathurst Health Services are planning to implement the Midwifery Antenatal and Postnatal Service model of care. This is where a woman will have a primary midwife assigned to her during her antenatal and postnatal periods. During labour and birth the care will be provided by a member of the midwifery staff unit at the birth site she chooses.

The Orange Midwifery Group Practice model of care will remain as an option for women who reside in Orange. This is where a midwife is assigned through the whole journey from antenatal to labour and birth to postnatal period.

How to have your say

You can have your say on the Midwifery Continuity of Care models by completing the survey below or by joining a working group. There will be two working groups - one for Bathurst and one for Orange. The purpose of the working groups is to implement the midwifery antenatal and postnatal continuity of care model for Orange and Bathurst.