Today, Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care announced the Ontario government’s support for Markham Stouffville Hospital’s (MSH) new Alongside Midwifery Unit (AMU), which provides more access to women choosing to have a midwife for their childbirth experience in a hospital setting for normal births for low risk healthy women.
We are excited to have the first AMU in Canada. The AMU gives patients access to other supports on the same floor should they be needed during labour and birth including diagnostic services and medical treatment such as obstetrical, neonatal and anaesthetic care as the unit is alongside the obstetrical unit.
Midwives have been successfully integrated into the childbirth care team at MSH since 1994 and work collaboratively to deliver optimal services to patients in our community. Over the next five years, the AMU will support over 1,000 more deliveries by allowing midwives to care for a greater number of expectant families in the region – an increase from about 37 clients to 60 clients per year once the AMU is fully operational.
MSH is excited to be a leader in this area and to have the government’s support as we roll out this innovative model of care. This is a true example of putting patients at the centre of their care and is closely aligned with our strategy.
Download the news release in English, Chinese and Tamil.
For the livestream visit: http://www.mediaevents.ca/moh-20180426/ starting around the 5:30 mark.