Midwifery pilot project to start in Fredericton

The provincial government has announced a midwifery pilot project will soon be implemented in New Brunswick and tapped Fredericton as the demonstration site.

READ MORE: Midwifery Association of New Brunswick encouraged by government’s commitment to hire

A lead midwife will be recruited in the immediate future to assist in developing policies and procedures with three more practitioners to be hired shortly thereafter.

The Horizon Health Network will manage the operation of the program which is expected to be operational within four to six months.

“We are obviously committed to improving access to primary health care by maximizing the use of health care professionals including midwives,” said Health Minister Victor Boudreau.

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Previously, New Brunswick was joined by Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Yukon as the four provinces and territories in Canada that didn’t have regulated midwifery services.

READ MORE: No plans for New Brunswick midwifery program despite promise from province

Boudreau said success elsewhere in the country shows there is a demand for additional health care options during and after pregnancy.

“We’ve seen very successful midwife programs in other provinces,” Boudreau explained. “So it’s about offering an alternative solution to women who want to go with midwives.”

Advocates for the long-awaited program say they hope it is implemented quickly so that families who want midwifery services no longer have to go without.

“We have families and they’re pregnant and they’re due and they really need a midwife and they’re so close,” said Sonya Burrill, chair of New Brunswick Families for Midwives. “But we don’t know how long it’s going to take for them to actually be able to walk in the doors of that midwifery practice.”

The program is estimated to cost $650,000 in its first year.