'Overworked and underpaid': Hawke's Bay midwives take to the streets

Lillian Gough has been a midwife for only 18 months, but already she's taken to the streets to speak out about industry burnout.

The Hawke's Bay representative for the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) union, was one of about a dozen midwives on strike outside Hawke's Bay Hospital today.

The eight-hour strike began at 11am and continued until 7pm, with picketers outside the hospital at various stages throughout the day.

Several midwives were also stationed along Emerson St in Napier, talking through the reasons for the strike with passers-by.

Hawke's Bay MERAS union representative Lillian Gough (left) was one of a dozen midwives on strike outside the Hawke's Bay Hospital on Wednesday over failed pay negotiations. Photo / Warren Buckland

Gough said it came down to hospital midwives being "overworked and underpaid".

She said the union wanted more recognition from the government, for the vital work they did amidst an industry facing huge worker shortages.

"There are not a lot of us.

"We're just trying to increase staff and this is the best way to do it."

"It would make a difference if we could entice them back."

Gough estimates there are about 600 midwives in New Zealand with valid midwifery certificates who are not currently practising "because the conditions are so poor".

"We are just haemorrhaging midwives," she said.

"People are leaving the profession or going to Australia."

She felt many people didn't appreciate the difference between nurses and midwives, and exactly what role they played in helping women throughout pregnancy, birth and post-natal care.

Hawke's Bay MERAS union representative Lillian Gough (far right) says hospital midwives are "overworked and underpaid" and want better recognition from the government. Photo / Warren Buckland

This included attending births and helping deliver babies, as well as helping with aftercare to support mothers with breastfeeding and their recovery.

"It's a job you do for the love and not for the money," Gough said, adding it was her passion for women's health that kept her in the job.

"I could earn twice as much money doing half as much work.

"It really is a passion but passion can only get you so far and so many of us are getting burned out."

A Life Preserving Service agreement was agreed upon before the strike ensuring the safety of safety and wellbeing of mothers and babies at Hawke's Bay Hospital.

Some services, such as elective caesarean sections and non-urgent antenatal or day assessment appointments, were deferred during the strike action.

Patients directly affected by the strike were also contacted by the DHB to reschedule their appointments.

Hundreds of other hospital midwives have taken part in demonstrations across the country following failed negotiations over pay increases last week.

A further 12-hour strike is set down for next Thursday from 8am.

A stop-work meeting of senior hospital doctors and dentists who are members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, of which there are 149 in Hawke's Bay, is set to take place today.

Stalled negotiations relating to the new multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) will be discussed at this meeting.