The Nova Scotia NDP has started an online petition calling on the province to make investment in the midwifery program.
MLA Tammy Martin, the NDP health and labour critic, says the petition had over 100 signatures in the first 24 hours it was posted.
She calls the lack of services an ‘attack’ on not just health care but on vulnerable women.
“There are a lot of women who use midwives because of their economic status, because of their current living situation, there are many factors that affect the people who use midwifery.”
Martin says the party would like to see recommendations from a 2011 independent review of midwifery services be followed.
The authors of that report suggested doubling the amount of midwife positions to around 20 province wide.
The South Shore had two positions. Both have been suspended due to staffing issues.
Critics have said the workload is too great for two midwives to handle.
People in the Yarmouth area have also spoken out, requesting midwifery coverage in their area.
Given the current surplus the province has, Martin believes there’s no excuse not to increase funding to the midwifery program.
“That surplus budget is at the expense of the health of Nova Scotians,” says Martin. “We have the money, we’re just not spending it in the right places.”
A protest recently took place at MLA Mark Furey’s office where Furey told protesters he would speaking to the health minister on behalf of the protesters.
Martin says she has reached out to the health minister herself but has received little response.
The legislature is back in session at the end of February and Martin says midwifery will be high on the NDP’s list of issues to tackle.
