Canberra's 'confusing' maternity intake system is getting an overhaul

Canberra Health Services said the changes came after feedback from mums that the territory's maternity system was too confusing.

The changes will be announced today when the government releases its "What We Learnt" report after surveying women and health services about Canberra's maternity services.

The survey found 93 per cent of women said having a single phone number would make it easier to access maternity services and 86 per cent of people said it was very important to meet a midwife early in pregnancy to talk about pregnancy and birthing options.

This week's territory budget included $513,000 to fund the project in 2019-20, providing 2.2 equivalent extra full-time midwives and two full-time administration staff.

The money will establish a single territory-wide intake phone line for maternity services, as well as a community based early pregnancy and parenting service.

The government says these services will help match women to the model of care that suits them most and promote service choices closer to home.

Women will still be able to choose if they would like to have their baby at Calvary or Canberra hospitals, where clinically appropriate.

Canberra Health Services' executive director of women, youth and children, Tina Bracher, said the new service was based on women's feedback.

"We've heard from women ... the system was a challenge to navigate to get to the right place and access the model of care they want," she said.

Canberra Hospital assistant director of nursing Cathy O'Neill said the new services would streamline access to maternity services.

"It's looking at how women can navigate what seems like a confusing system," she said.

"What we found was really the only way to do that was for women to have a conversation with their midwife and to be able to have a health assessment as well as look at what options are available to them."

Ms O'Neill said women would simply have to call up a number to get their first appointment with a midwife and would not need a referral from their GP.

"If women want to have a birth in the public system in Canberra they will call one number," she said.

"They will get an appointment in a community centre close to their home so they can talk to a midwife about their pregnancy care and the options that are available."

Currently, a women would need a referral from a GP to the hospital where they would like to have their baby.

"Most women get their early pregnancy care form their GP and that will continue, but the women can call the number without a GP referral and get that first visit," Ms O'Neill said.

"For every woman to be getting the same information is great for women. The care we all need to receive is based on your own story and your own circumstances. We can't do it any other way without having a conversation."

The program is expected to begin towards the end of the year.