In order to provide resources and support across maternity hospitals around Victoria, the Bracks Government has proposed funding of $53 million. Mr Bracks said the number of births had increased by 5 per cent over recent years and personified it as ‘a mini baby boom’. He said more than $35 million of the extra funding would be spent over four years on maternity services and post-natal home visits. Further allocations include $10 million for neo-natal hearing screening, $750,000 to train obstetricians in rural areas and $5.6 million for rural midwifery. Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said the funding boost was recognition that mothers and babies needed the best level of care, and it would also help to retain GPs in rural Victoria. Image Read