Maternity services in Gladstone will “absolutely” stay open Health Minister Shannon Fentiman says, as areas still on bypass — including Chinchilla, Weipa, Cooktown and Biloela — will be prioritised for the $42m budget fund bucket.
Doctors are questioning the return of maternity services to Gladstone is a “stopgap” or a commitment to long-lasting birthing in the city, according to Sky News host Jenna Clarke.
“There has been much hand wringing and much drama when it comes to Maternity units around the states, specifically in the regions like Rockhampton and Gladstone,” Ms Clarke said.
It comes as the state government’s maternity roundtable met for the second time, with the focus on “place based solutions” which could be rolled out using a $42m budget fund bucket.
And areas still on bypass — including Chinchilla, Weipa, Cooktown and Biloela — will be prioritised.
Gladstone Hospital’s maternity bypass ended this week after 339 days.
Ms Fentiman on Friday confirmed there were 1.5 permanent obstetricians at Gladstone, and three locums, who were “working very closely” to ensure there were contingencies in place if any of them need to schedule leave or were unwell.
Shannon Fentiman at the press conference for the Maternity roundtable at Parliament House Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass
She said there were a number of obstetricians who also could travel up to Gladstone from Rockhampton if needed.
And Ms Fentiman was confident the return to full service was “locked in place”.
“We are very confident of that continuity of care,” she said.
“And I’ve made it very clear to the department that of course, we would not be reopening and saying that we’re back to full service unless that would stay that way and the advice is that it will absolutely stay that way.”
A total of $42m was set aside in the state budget for maternity services, with Ms Fentiman confirming the cash was yet to be allocated to specific programs.
Gladstone Hospital. Picture Rodney Stevens
AMA Queensland president Dr Maria Boulton said the peak body for GPs had asked for the state to chip in cash, prior to the budget, to help GPs get training to become GP-Obstetricians in regional Queensland.
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union, in a long-running campaign, again called for nurse to patient ratios to be put in place for midwives, with the calculation to include babies.
A pilot program is underway at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Ms Fentiman said she was “very interested” in putting ratios in place.