Thank you, Salha Aziz and her beautiful family, for encouraging Halton Regional Council to Unanimously Support the Urgent Expansion of Midwifery Services at Hawthrone Midwives and the Halton Region!

Thank you to each of you for your support! Please spread the news that we need more community support to ensure mothers and babies have more access to midwifery services in the Halton Region cared for by more midwives!

Today, Hawthorne Midwives, a dedicated group of healthcare professionals, celebrated a significant milestone in their campaign to expand midwifery services in the rapidly growing area of Milton. The Halton Regional Council unanimously passed a resolution that supports the urgent need for increased midwifery services, a move that aligns with the Halton Region’s objectives and underscores the critical nature of this issue within the region.

Recent BORN data (2017-2022) reveals that 42.5% of families in the Milton and Northwest Mississauga area could not access midwifery care due to full capacity, compared to the provincial average of 35.3%. This significant shortfall highlights the need for increased services to accommodate the community's demands.

Lynn Hendrick, RM, a midwife and practice partner at Hawthorne Midwives, highlighted the critical need for increased resources as a delegation at the Council meeting. "The unanimous resolution passed by the Halton Regional Council marks a pivotal moment for us. It recognizes the urgency and supports our call to action, reflecting our shared commitment to enhancing maternal health in one of Canada’s fastest-growing communities," she stated.

The presentation to the council outlined several key challenges currently facing the practice, including inadequate staff funding from the MOH, which has limited the number of pregnant women they can care for to 190. In 2023 alone, 460 pregnant women were turned away. Since the practice opened in 2018, 1848 expectant mothers have been turned away due to the limited number of midwives.

To address these issues, Hawthorne Midwives has proposed a comprehensive plan. They aim to increase their care allocation for pregnant women from 190 to 280 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and obtain immediate approval from the MOH to hire two new registered midwives and two new midwife graduates. These measures are essential to preventing burnout among current staff, increasing service availability, and ensuring sustainable healthcare services that align with Milton's growing population.

Salha Aziz, mother of four, including two who were born at home with Hawthorne Midwives, expressed her support: "The resolution from Halton Regional Council is a source of hope for families like mine. More families in the Halton Region will be able to experience the nurturing, wonderful care that Hawthorne Midwives provide."

Proposed by Halton Regional Councillor Sameera Ali and seconded by Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz, the Resolution Actions include:

• The Halton Regional Council encourages Halton midwifery organizations to continue working with their local Transfer Payment Agency as part of the annual budget process to address pressures and service demands from population growth.
• The Regional Chair will write a letter to the Provincial Minister of Health, emphasizing the importance of ensuring adequate provincial allocation of billable courses of care to meet the increasing service demand in Halton.
• A copy of the resolution will be sent to Halton’s MPPs, local municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Association of Ontario Midwives.