Maternity Capability

Capability measures, including information related to staff, beds, and midwife-to-patient ratios in postnatal wards, provide an indication of Queensland Health’s ability to provide midwifery services through Clinical Service Capability Framework (CSCF) level 5 and 6 public hospitals.

Midwife-to-patient ratios in maternity postnatal wards

There is clear evidence to indicate the number of midwives on a shift plays an important role in patient safety and quality of care. The Queensland Government legislated minimum midwife-to-patient ratios in public CSCF level 5 and 6 postnatal wards, which commenced on 1 September 2025.

For in-scope maternity postnatal wards, the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2023 was amended to set minimum midwifery staffing ratios at 1:6 for morning shifts, 1:6 for afternoon shifts, and 1:6 for night shifts, relative to the number of patients on the ward.

The existing industrially mandated Business Planning Framework will continue to apply across all nursing and midwifery services in Queensland Health, regardless of whether a facility or ward is subject to existing midwife-to-patient ratios, or minimum midwifery legislation in CSCF level 5 and 6 postnatal wards.