More provincial money for local midwifery services

Sarnia-Lambton has received additional funding from the province to expand midwifery services.

MPP Bob Bailey said an extra $613,044 is being provided to Midwifery Services of Lambton-Kent, located on Christina Street in Sarnia.

Bailey said the funds are part of an additional $28 million commitment to help up to 3,400 more families access the additional choice in primary care during a pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

"Across the province, there's 90 new midwifery graduates that are entering the field," said Bailey. "The province is providing $178 million for midwifery services this year, supporting up to 35,000 families."

Bailey said the extra funds will also help groups update technology.

"There's more people choosing to have their children that way. By having the services at your home, those people aren't in the hospital, so that frees up more room in the hospital and they say it leads to shorter hospital stays for any hospital birth attended by a midwife."

He said the government is still working to expand the scope of practice for midwives, by allowing them to prescribe more medications to clients.