WORKING AS A COORDINATOR MIDWIFE IN A TERTIARY ...

shortages result in high workloads and increased stress levels which place the LMC
model of care in a vulnerable situation.
The interface of primary and secondary service provision with secondary and tertiary
maternity services, strategizing regarding workforce issues, professional relationships and
multidisciplinary cooperation are all issues which have been identified in the report and
which require attention and action by the Maternity Action Plan advisory group.
Childbirth is an emotive subject and attracts media attention. The headline “Midwife
shortage a ‘time bomb’” was released by the New Zealand Herald (Johnston, 2007)
revealing twenty percent of the Counties Manukau DHB, one hundred and sixty
midwifery positions, are vacant. Within the Manukau DHB region there is also a shortage
of LMCs which exacerbates the situation. Lynda Williams, coordinator of the Maternity
Services Consumer Council is quoted in this newspaper article as stating “It’s a disaster
waiting to happen and it’s going to happen. This would come out if there was a mishap
and I feel there is going to be a mishap”.
The current midwifery situation nationally and internationally is of great relevance to all
midwives. The shortage of midwives impacts on coordinator midwives who take
leadership and management responsibilities in the tertiary setting, where there is an
assumption by the public that there will be safe provision of care. Symon and Black
(2005) write “dangerous situations are created by heavy workloads, and are aggravated
by sub-optimal skill mix, poor communication and individuals making mistakes or not
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