Maternity Clinical Indicators released today

The New Zealand College of Midwives is pleased to have been part of the multi professional group that developed the first set of clinical indicators for New Zealand maternity services.

It has been a long time since the College and others first called for a sustainable national clinical data base to provide a benchmarking system for all maternity practitioners and providers on which to measure outcomes for mothers and their babies. NZCOM says the Ministry of Health’s commitment to ongoing development and oversight of the system is welcomed.

“This is only the start” says CEO Karen Guilliland, “and it is an excellent information base for identifying similarities and differences in services and areas which require continuing improvement. It is clear from the first report that the sector needs to improve consistency of outcomes across the country. This report gives a foundation for DHBs and maternity providers across the board to address service issues which act as a barrier to excellent outcomes,” she said.