Province kicks in cash for midwifery services

Barrie Midwives will receive $316,696 in provincial funding to support their work providing high quality care to local families.

When asked about the funding, MPP Downey said, “Families deserve choice when it comes to their pre and post natal care. It can be a stressful experience for both new and experienced parents, which is why families should be able to choose the care and support that best suits their needs. This investment will help to ensure that Barrie Midwives have the resources to continue providing our region with high quality care.”

In addition to the increase in funding, the Ministry is also working to responsibly expand the scope of practice for midwives in Ontario, to allow them to prescribe more medications to clients. This will provide Ontarians greater choice in care, alleviate strain on the health care system, and reduce wait times for medications and therapies.

"The Barrie Midwives will be able to use this funding to protect what matters most, by ensuring families have more choices when it comes to delivering their babies,” said MPP Khanjin. “This additional funding will mean more families in Barrie and surrounding areas will be able to access quality care from a midwife during pregnancy, labour and birth, as well as six weeks of support once their baby is born.”

Quick Facts

These new investments across the province will also:

• Support up to 90 new midwifery graduates entering the field;
• Increase access to culturally appropriate midwifery care by expanding Indigenous midwifery programs;
• Ensure midwifery practice groups can update their technology to continue providing quality services; and
• Commit to ongoing funding for a Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team pilot program to ensure their patients can receive ongoing midwifery care.