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Midwives begin mediation to rectify gender discrimination

Author
Hannah Bartlett,
Publish Date
Mon, 15 Aug 2016, 5:10AM
(Getty Images).
(Getty Images).

Midwives begin mediation to rectify gender discrimination

Author
Hannah Bartlett,
Publish Date
Mon, 15 Aug 2016, 5:10AM

It's been a long gestation but the New Zealand College of Midwives and Ministry of Health officials will today begin mediation over midwives' working conditions.

A High Court case was set for tomorrow arguing gender discrimination against midwives, but mediation will take place instead.

College Chief Executive Karen Guilliland said midwives' conditions haven't kept up with male-dominated health professions with similar levels of education and responsibility.

The last time conditions were reviewed was in 2007, she said, and their work environments have birthed new challenges since then.

"Midwives now look after something like 92 percent of women, whereas when we first started we only looked after women who were well and healthy. We now look after all women."

Guilliland said there's a strong panel of Ministry officials attending the mediation, and she's hopeful it will be a positive process.

"They're the only health professional that provides 24 hour care in the community, in the homes, you name it, the midwife's there, wherever that woman needs her to be. We want to be able to sustain that. We need to have help to do that."

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