WHEREAS due to the current moratorium on all local deliveries, planned birthing is no longer attainable north of Campbell River; AND WHEREAS all pregnant women must travel to a larger centre two weeks prior to the scheduled due date; AND WHEREAS travel and accommodations are necessary in most cases to fulfill the birthing requirements imposed by the moratorium on local deliveries; AND WHEREAS to receive partial assistance from the Ministry of Human Resources for travel and accommodations a physicians statement attesting that the birth is a life-threatening situation must be obtained; AND WHEREAS the Ministry of Human Resources limits resources to one week of the required two week pre-birth date: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request that the provincial government develop a travel and funding policy that supports the policy on relocation to meet birthing requirements.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH SERVICES MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES The province ensures the highest quality maternity care and treatment is available to women through strategies that ensure access to information and technologies that increase well-being before, during and after birth. The British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Womens health, BC Womens Hospital, the Provincial Health Officer and other partners help to guide health policy on maternity care through research and initiatives related to best practices and evidence-based care. The Province strives to improve understanding of maternal and fetal health outcomes through research into primary care, high risk and complex pregnancy and birth and the issues and health threats posed by substance use, smoking and HIVAIDS. The needs of rural communities and women who leave their home communities to give birth are of particular concern, as is maternity care for women marginalized by income, age, race, culture, sexual orientation, geography, disability or addictions. To ensure maternity care receives priority in health planning, in addition to a maternity care initiative now in place, the Ministry of Health Services is developing a long-term strategy for maternity care. The strategy will be included in discussions this fall with primary care physicians, health authorities and others. The Ministry of Health Services works with health authorities to develop maternity care services that address the needs of women in their regions. Innovative approaches include funding through BC Womens Hospital for a family practice maternity model in the Interior and the South Health Community Birth Project in Vancouver, which uses a team approach to provide care to women in a multi-ethnic community. The Ministry of Human Resources policy on travel is governed by legislation and regulations and any changes would require legislative amendments. At present, all travel requests are based on life threatening health needs that are confirmed by a physician. The ministry cannot target changes to specific areas of the province and not apply them elsewhere. In communities from which it may be necessary to travel to obtain maternity care, the Ministries of Health Services and Human Resources will be working together to ensure their policies on travel assistance are aligned. Health authorities have also received additional funding to build on existing travel assistance programs by developing approaches that best suit the needs of patients in their regions.