Proserpine Hospital - Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies

Part D: Respectful Care
Respectful care includes treating women with dignity, courtesy, kindness and understanding. Respectful care acknowledges
women’s individuality, reflects genuine care for their wellbeing, and allows them the time they need to make decisions. In an
attempt to avoid typically high and less useful global ratings of health care, researchers have begun to move away from the
concept of patient satisfaction and focus on more useful specific patient experiences of care (Wiegers, 2009).
We have reported on four indicators of respectful care.
Indicator 7: Do care providers treat women with respect
The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights highlights that “patients and consumers have a right to receive care in a manner that
is respectful of their culture, beliefs, values and characteristics like age and gender” (ACSQHC, 2009). Women in receipt of
maternity care services have a right to be treated with dignity and consideration by their care providers. The Code of Good
Medical Practice states that “good medical practice involves treating your patients with respect at all times” (AMC, 2009), which
can be used as a target for delivering gold standard care.
Indicator 8: Do care providers treat women with kindness and understanding
To provide holistic care during labour and birth, care providers should ensure that women’s needs are met both physically and
psychologically (ANMC, 2006). Having a care provider who demonstrates support and compassion is rated very highly by
women as contributing to a positive experience of labour and birth (Lavender et al., 1999).
Indicator 9: Do care providers genuinely care about women’s wellbeing
Woman-centred care is care that prioritises the needs and preferences of each individual woman over the needs of care
providers, facilities and the maternity care system. Demonstrating genuine care for women’s wellbeing can be seen as a
component of delivering care that is genuinely woman-centred.
Indicator 10: Do care providers respect women’s decisions
The Australian Medical Council supports the view that in order to deliver good patient care, care providers must respect and
recognise that patients have a right to make their own decisions about their care (AMC, 2009). While care providers have a
responsibility to provide unbiased information about all available options, the final decision in any given situation ultimately
remains at the discretion of the patient. Part of respecting a woman in maternity care is also respecting her ability to make
decisions that are best suited to her individual needs and circumstances.
20