No abstract

their backup "will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide phone advice to the woman and community or hospital-based assessment for urgent problems, other than acute emergencies" (Ministry of Health, 2007, p. 1060). Midwife LMCs make up 41% of the midwifery workforce and care for an average of 47 women per midwife each year (Ministry of Health, 2010). The New Zealand College of Midwives promotes the philosophy of continuity of care recognising it as enhancing partnership with women (Guilliland & Pairman, 1995)-a philosophy confluent with the LMC model. National satisfaction surveys show that women receiving continuity of care during childbirth report greater satisfaction (Ministry of Health, 2008). They also experience fewer interventions and have better outcomes ensuring the cost effectiveness of their care.