❓ Ms. Mettam questions the temporary closure of Bentley Hospital's maternity unit in 2020. The response provides data on births, staffing, relocations, resignations, and confirms a planned reopening in late 2022.
AnsweredQoN 391Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the decision to 'temporarily' cease maternity and gynaecological services at Bentley Hospital Maternity Unit on March 27, 2020, and i ask : (a) How many women gave birth at the unit in: (i) 2017-2018; (ii) 2018-2019; and (iii) 2019 to March 2020; (b) How many midwives and specialist gynaecological and obstetric staff were employed at the unit before it closed; (c) Of those employed at the maternity unit, how many were seconded to maternity units or other services at other hospitals (by each hospital); (d) How many of those midwives and other staff employed at the maternity unit resigned or were made redundant; and (e) Has a date been set to re-open the maternity unit: (i) If yes, what is the date; and (ii) If not, why not and will the unit remain permanently closed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2022
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
9 days
Following the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in early 2020, the Bentley Heath Service Obstetrics and Gynaecology services closed temporarily in March 2020. The activity for the BHS was redistributed between King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and Armadale Health Service (AHS).
(a) (i) 782
(ii) 737
(iii) 719
(b) The Bentley Hospital Maternity Unit was staffed by 58 Midwives and 1 Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse, 1 Staff Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 5 Community Midwifery Program Obstetrician and Gynaecologists, and 14 Community Midwifery Program General Practice Obstetricians.
(c) The majority of clinical staff were relocated to King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and Armadale Health Service (AHS).
11 midwives were relocated to AHS, 12 to KEMH, 2 to Fiona Stanley Hospital, 5 within the Bentley Health Service and 2 to the WA Country Health Service.
1 Staff Obstetrician and Gynaecologist was relocated to AHS.
In addition to the midwives either seconded to other sites or resigned, there were a number of midwives who were on fixed term contracts, including some graduate midwives, whose contracts either ended or were recalled to their substantive positions elsewhere.
(d) 12 resigned and no staff were made redundant.
(e) Yes.
(i) The transition of Obstetrics and Gynaecology services back to Bentley Health Service has commenced in a staged approach, culminating with the planned return of births late-2022.
(ii) Not applicable.
(a) (i) 782
(ii) 737
(iii) 719
(b) The Bentley Hospital Maternity Unit was staffed by 58 Midwives and 1 Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse, 1 Staff Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 5 Community Midwifery Program Obstetrician and Gynaecologists, and 14 Community Midwifery Program General Practice Obstetricians.
(c) The majority of clinical staff were relocated to King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and Armadale Health Service (AHS).
11 midwives were relocated to AHS, 12 to KEMH, 2 to Fiona Stanley Hospital, 5 within the Bentley Health Service and 2 to the WA Country Health Service.
1 Staff Obstetrician and Gynaecologist was relocated to AHS.
In addition to the midwives either seconded to other sites or resigned, there were a number of midwives who were on fixed term contracts, including some graduate midwives, whose contracts either ended or were recalled to their substantive positions elsewhere.
(d) 12 resigned and no staff were made redundant.
(e) Yes.
(i) The transition of Obstetrics and Gynaecology services back to Bentley Health Service has commenced in a staged approach, culminating with the planned return of births late-2022.
(ii) Not applicable.
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