Midwives issue concern over planned shutdown of birthing facilities in Lower Saxony - Midwives issue alerts over potential maternity shutdowns in Lower Saxony
In Lower Saxony, midwives are raising concerns about a new midwifery contract set to apply nationwide from November 2025. The contract, aimed at reforming the remuneration of midwifery services, threatens the economic existence of contract midwives in the region.
The new contract, which focuses on one-to-one care around childbirth, plans to implement a model of flat rates and time-dependent billing. However, the exact financial impact of this new contract on clinics in Lower Saxony remains unclear, as specific details about the contract terms, reimbursement schedules, and regional healthcare usage data are not readily available.
The letter voicing these concerns was previously reported by NDR and was obtained by the German Press Agency. Midwives from eleven Lower Saxon clinics have signed the letter, expressing their fears that their freelance activities will no longer be economically viable under the new remuneration rules. They demand changes to the contract and political intervention to address their concerns.
The state government of Lower Saxony has acknowledged the concerns and will closely monitor the economic effects of the new contract. However, it has no direct influence as it is not a contracting party. The state government has not made any changes to the contract or intervened politically, despite the midwives' appeals.
The concerns raised by the midwives could potentially lead to the closure of several delivery rooms in the region. In 2023, more than 8,500 births were accompanied by contract midwives in Lower Saxony, with twelve delivery rooms in the state working exclusively with contract midwives.
CDU state parliamentarian Laura Hopmann supports the concerns raised by midwives in Lower Saxony. Minister Andreas Philippi, the Health Minister, has emphasized the importance of contract midwives but it is not yet clear whether the new contract will result in financial disadvantages. The new remuneration rules under the new midwifery contract are expected to result in income losses of up to 30% for midwives accompanying several births simultaneously.
To gain a better understanding of the financial impact of the new midwifery contract on clinics in Lower Saxony, one might consider checking local healthcare authorities or midwifery networks directly for updated financial analyses. Alternatively, official information such as government health ministry publications, regional health insurance funds reports, or midwifery association statements for Lower Saxony could provide valuable insights.
Midwives in Lower Saxony, concerned about the new midwifery contract's impact on their economic viability, have demanded changes to the contract and political intervention. Given the potential financial disadvantages, such as income losses of up to 30%, the concerns raised may lead to the closure of delivery rooms and significantly affect the health-and-wellness sector in the region. To better understand the financial impact, one can explore local healthcare authorities, midwifery networks, government health ministry publications, regional health insurance funds reports, or midwifery association statements for detailed analyses or insights in science and health-and-wellness fields. Vocational training programs for midwives in Lower Saxony might also need to adapt to these emerging challenges in the profession.
