For all the benefits of keeping Mother and baby together – physiological, emotional and financial, Midwives and new Mothers are paying a price. Policy: Any singleton baby born in hospital that stays with its mother cannot be recognised as a patient. Current Staffing: All Australian hospital staffing calculations are based on patient numbers. Real and Ongoing Problem: Postnatal maternity staffing is always inadequate because around 50% of the human beings that are given clinical care are not acknowledged as patients. It’s only getting worse, with fewer babies (thank-goodness) being separated from Mums, and with rising risk factors.This combination has led to an enormous increase in workload intensity/acuity on postnatal units across Australia. For a multitude of very good reasons there has been an important shift towards keeping mothers and babies together whenever possible, and Midwives have been instrumental in supporting this practice change. Separating newborns from their mother, so that baby can receive specialised treatment in the nursery is now reserved for preterm infants, babies needing respiratory support, continuous monitoring and those needing one on one care for any reason. Womens risk factors have risen exponentially in the past two to three decades, with maternal rates of diabetes in pregnancy, obesity, maternal age, fertility treatments and a high caesarean section rate the chief reasons. Very small babies (2-2.5kg), babies needing IV antibiotics, babies with jaundice under lights, babies born from 35-37 weeks gestation and babies needing intensive feeding regimes are now often kept with their mothers on the postnatal wards. At the same time, a decades-old definition of what “qualifies” a baby as a recognized patient remains in place, and that has prevented this increased acuity and workload from being factored into staffing levels. It can be found in the guidelines of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. One of the most glaring difficulties with this definition is that if these babies were separated from their mothers, received exactly the same clinical care in a different place (the nursery), costing significantly more, they would be patients. For all the benefits of keeping Mother and baby together – physiological, emotional and financial, it is Midwives and new mothers that are paying a high price. You only have to read some of the feedback from new mothers on social media to see how neglected, unheard and unsatisfied many women are with their care. You only have to read the dreadful results of workforce surveys to see how midwives are struggling – burning out and looking to leave the profession. I want this to change, and I believe I have a strong argument. I have written to the Health Minister, Greg Hunt MP and the shadow minister Catherine King MP without response. I have engaged with the WA union and Mr Mark Olson, with a very disappointing and disillusioning response. The national union has stepped up because of his inaction and inadequate response. I have the hope, positive feedback and backing of hundreds of midwives across the country. Liberal MP Ben Morton has written a strong letter of support to Mr Hunt and the health department, and I sat with a colleague and Labor MP Mark Keogh last month, which was a productive and positive start to dealing with the federal Labor party. MP Morton has advised me that a response from the Health Minister has been drafted and is awaiting his signature. Please keep sharing the message, and encouraging family and friends to sign the petition. I will keep the updates coming.