❓ I refer to birthing services for the people of Newman and surrounds, and I ask: (a) what options are currently available to women in Newman regarding place of birth, and what support is provided for t
AnsweredQoN 1323Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to birthing services for the people of Newman and surrounds, and I ask: (a) what options are currently available to women in Newman regarding place of birth, and what support is provided for travel and accommodation; (b) do mothers have a choice of hospital, including if no specific clinical risks are present; (c) for the years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 to date, how many Newman residents gave birth in: (i) Port Hedland; (ii) Karratha; (iii) Perth; and (iv) other regional Western Australian hospitals; and (d) for the years mentioned above in (c), what is the total the state government has spent on travel and accommodation reimbursements?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 April 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health
Response time
5 days
(a) Birthing services are available at Karratha Health Campus and Hedland Health Campus. Eligible women may access support through the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) towards travel and accommodation costs.
(b) Expectant mothers may choose from a range of public and private birthing services in Western Australia, subject to clinical considerations and the capacity and capability of the receiving facility. Travel to an alternative facility may be supported where the woman is assessed as low clinical risk and appropriate birthing services are available locally.
(c) Number of Newman women giving birth per financial year
Location
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26 YTD
Port Hedland
26
22
17
15
Karratha
<5
<5
<5
<5
Perth
39
34
50
29
Other
6
6
8
5
(d) For 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 to date, total State Government expenditure on Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) travel and accommodation reimbursements for people from Newman and surrounding areas accessing obstetric, childbirth and related services was $1,686,532
(b) Expectant mothers may choose from a range of public and private birthing services in Western Australia, subject to clinical considerations and the capacity and capability of the receiving facility. Travel to an alternative facility may be supported where the woman is assessed as low clinical risk and appropriate birthing services are available locally.
(c) Number of Newman women giving birth per financial year
Location
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26 YTD
Port Hedland
26
22
17
15
Karratha
<5
<5
<5
<5
Perth
39
34
50
29
Other
6
6
8
5
(d) For 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 to date, total State Government expenditure on Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) travel and accommodation reimbursements for people from Newman and surrounding areas accessing obstetric, childbirth and related services was $1,686,532
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