'The midwife crisis is real': Pleas for help to stop burn-outs, shortages and pay problemsDOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF Midwives Sheryl Wright, left, and Karen Barnes and baby McKenzie, who at the time this picture was taken was only a few hours old and didn't have a first name yet. SIMON O'CONNOR/STUFF Minister of Health David Clark said he's asked the Ministry of Health to look at what can be done to address the midwife crisis in both the short and longer term. "The midwife crisis is real, but we don't want women to be afraid," chairwoman of the Waikato branch of the New Zealand College of Midwives, Karen Barnes, said. Rural community midwife Sheryl​ Wright said the pay hasn't kept up with the inflation, but said women's needs and expectations have increased. Wintec works in partnership with Waikato midwives, birthing centres and the Waikato District Health Board and other DHBs across the Midland region.

Source: Stuff March 02, 2018 03:45 UTC