WHAT Launch of the Fourth Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation 2021
Early planned caesarean section births will be a key focus of the Fourth Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation, to be released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) on Wednesday 28 April.
The Atlas series, which commenced in 2015, examines variations in healthcare use in Australia based on where people live, and analyses appropriateness and equity of healthcare delivery.
The fourth Atlas investigates 17 items across six clinical topics, including early planned births and potentially preventable hospitalisations for chronic disease and infection, and makes specific achievable recommendations to reduce unwarranted variation.
For the key topic of early planned birth, findings show that many Australian babies are being placed at unnecessary risk because their caesarean section birth is scheduled too early, without a medical reason. This is despite higher risks of adverse effects for babies born before 39 weeks' gestation.
Minister for Health and Aged Care The Hon Greg Hunt MP will launch the Atlas in a live webcast event on Wednesday 28 April with the Commission's Board Chair, Professor Villis Marshall AC. Hosted by Professor Anne Duggan, Commission Acting Chief Medical Officer, the webcast will feature presentations from Professor John Newnham AM, Senior Australian of the Year 2020 and Professor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at The University of Western Australia, and Professor Paul Kelly, Australian Government Chief Medical Officer.
WHEN Wednesday 28 April, 12:00pm – 1:00pm AEST – Presentations and discussion
FORMAT Live-streamed online event
Media are invited to register. Interviews are available before and after the launch.
• Professor John Newnham AM, Senior Australian of the Year 2020 and Professor of Obstetrics at The University of Western Australia
• Professor Villis Marshall AC, Board Chair, the Commission
