Dear members

As many of you will be aware the Ministry of Health failed to meet the terms of its mediation agreement with the College, regarding the budget bid for 2018, and that this created considerable disappointment and concern within the profession. At the 2018 College conference in Rotorua, Keriana Brooking, Ministry of Health Deputy Director of Service Commissioning was a member of the panel discussion “Seeking equity for midwifery”. Her speech included an apology to the College and the profession for the way in which the Ministry had responded to the co-design work.  Below is a link to the full recorded panel discussion, which also features other speakers on the topic (Keriana’s speech starts at 15.30 in the video).

Karen Guilliland has also recently received a letter from Ashley Bloomfield, Director General of the Ministry of Health, in which he stated that he “looks forward to working with you, NZCOM and its members. It is important for you and your members to know your views are heard and respected and will be incorporated into our work”.  The College will continue to keep members informed of progress as we work with the Ministry to develop a new contract for the payment of self-employed  community midwives.

Click here to view Keriana’s letter to the College after the conference