Gold Coast Birth Centre - Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies

Indicator 18: Do women make informed decisions about vaginal examinations 11
Gold standard care is defined as women feeling that they made an informed decision to have vaginal examinations (that is, the
pros and cons were discussed and they decided from all their available options).
We asked women who had at least one vaginal examination: “Did your maternity care provider(s) discuss with you the pros and
cons (benefits and risks) of having and not having vaginal examinations” and “Who made the decision to have or not have
vaginal examinations”
The graph displays the percentage of women who said they made an informed decision to have vaginal examinations during
labour.
STATEWIDE PUBLIC
13
Gold Coast Hospital (n=115)
8
Gold Coast Birth Centre (n=2)
Insufficient data
STATEWIDE PRIVATE
10
John Flynn Private Hospital (n=29)
21
Pindara Private Hospital (n=77)
8
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Best public hospital in Queensland:
Caboolture Hospital 25%
Best public birth centre in Queensland:
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Birth Centre 40%
Best private hospital in Queensland:
John Flynn Private Hospital 21%
What do women say about their care
“After I gave birth…the midwife completely violated my
personal space prodding the entrance to my vagina
with her finger apparently to see whether I had torn or
not, causing me extreme pain since I just gave birth
out of there, also minor grazing. She told me what she
was doing just as she touched me so I couldn't say
no.”
“Women should be more informed of their choices by
medical care providers. Once women make an informed
decision this should be respected and encouraged.”
11
Insufficient data for Atherton Hospital, Biloela Hospital, Emerald Hospital, Gold Coast Birth Centre, Goondiwindi Hospital, Gympie Hospital,
Innisfail Hospital, Longreach Hospital, Mackay Birth Centre, Mareeba Hospital, Stanthorpe Hospital, Townsville Birth Centre and Warwick
Hospital.
35