Waikato midwives mark milestone in making immunisation easier for whānau

This week (15 April), midwives in Hamilton celebrated an important milestone in a project aimed at making immunisation easier to access for hapū māmā, pēpi and whānau.

Midwives by Chartwell, Waterford Birth Centre and River Ridge Birthing Centre have worked through the processes needed to provide funded immunisations more directly in maternity settings.

The milestone was acknowledged at a celebration event recognising the work of local midwives and providers, alongside Pinnacle Midlands Health Network’s Waikato immunisation facilitator, Helen Ride, who has helped support the centres through the process.

Helen said the change would make it easier for whānau to access vaccination through maternity services they already know and trust.

“They could vaccinate before, but they had no real way of getting the vaccines,” she said.

“This makes it easier for whānau to get vaccinated in a place they already know.”

Recent changes to midwives’ scope and funding arrangements have made it possible for appropriately trained midwives to provide a wider range of funded immunisations. But getting to that point has taken significant work behind the scenes.

Providers have had to organise cold chain equipment, complete training, put policies in place, establish monitoring systems, and work through compliance and accreditation requirements.

“It’s a lot of work,” Helen said.

“They need the right equipment, the right policies, and the right monitoring in place, so there’s been a lot involved for these teams.”

Helen’s role covers around 200 vaccine providers across the Waikato region, and she is supported across the large and busy Waikato region by colleague, immunisation improvement facilitator Pam Rudolph.

Jan Adams, Pinnacle’s director of nursing and executive lead for immunisation, said the milestone reflected the value of practical, community-based collaboration.

“This is exactly the kind of practical, collaborative work that can make a real difference,” she said.

“It improves access, supports whānau, and brings care closer to the communities it is there for.”

Senior representatives from across the maternity and immunisation sector also attended, including Heather Muriwai - chief maternity officer (Mānatu Hauora - Ministry of Health), Jolene Proffit - group manager, national immunisation programmes (Te Whatu Ora), and Tamati Peni - regional prevention development & delivery lead (Te Whatu Ora - NPHS), alongside local providers, Pinnacle, and midwives involved in the work.

The project highlights the growing role of midwives in providing immunisation support in maternity settings, creating more opportunities for whānau to receive care in places and through people they already know and trust.

In photo above from left to right: Vanessa Shirlow (CEO, River Ridge Birth Centre), Heather Muriwai (Chief Maternity Officer, Mānatu Hauora - Ministry of Health), Rebecca Clewlow (Lead Maternity Carer/Midwife, Midwives by Chartwell), Jolene Proffitt (Group Manager, National Immunisation Programmes, Te Whatu Ora), Fiona Goldfinch (Lead Maternity Carer/Midwife), Jan Adams (Director of Nursing and Executive Lead – Immunisation, Pinnacle), Tamati Pene (Regional Prevention Development & Delivery Lead, Te Whatu Ora - NPHS), Helen Ride (Waikato Immunisation Facilitator, Pinnacle), Clare Hutchinson (Co-founder, River Ridge Birth Centre), Aldrin Arguelles (Waikato District Manager, Pinnacle), Warwick Hutchinson (Co-founder, River Ridge Birth Centre), Koro Samuels (Pou Tikanga – Waikato, Pinnacle), Fiona Hermann (Lead Maternity Carer/Midwife), Bevan Bayne (GM, Pinnacle Midlands Health Network), Pam Rudolph (Waikato Immunisation Improvement Facilitator, Pinnacle), Tracey Aubin (Owner, Waterford Birth Centre and Lead Maternity Carer/Midwife), and Megan Holmes (Lead Maternity Carer/Midwife).