❓ Mr. Love questions the ongoing closure of birthing facilities at Carnarvon Hospital, seeking details on its impact, government actions, and plans for restoration. The government acknowledges the temporary closure, outlines support for affected families, and details recruitment efforts.
AnsweredQoN 34Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to birthing facilities at Carnarvon Hospital that have been unavailable to Gascoyne mothers since 21 February 2022, and I ask : (a) Is the closure of this service temporary or permanent; (b) How many families have been impacted since the closure of birthing services in Carnarvon; (c) How many families have sought reimbursement for travel and accommodation incurred due to this closure; (d) What is the total the state government has spent on travel and accommodation reimbursements to date; (e) Which hospitals were mothers diverted to in the absence of a Carnarvon birthing service; (f) Please provide a time frame for the restoration of these critical health services in Carnarvon; (g) What specific actions has the State Government undertaken to address staffing shortages and resume full birthing services at Carnarvon Hospital: (i) How many advertisements have been placed for; (ii) midwives; (iii) anaesthetists; (iv) obstetricians; and (v) How many applications were received in response to the advertisements; and (h) Please outline any progress on a proposed FIFO staffing model to restore birthing services in Carnarvon?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 May 2025
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
8 days
(a)
Temporary.
(b-c)
208, all of which have claimed reimbursement
(d)
Carnarvon women are fully funded for relocating to access birthing services, including full cost of accommodation, travel and groceries. This has totalled $1,434,555.
(e)
Expectant mothers can choose from a variety of State public and private birthing services in Western Australia.
(f)
Birthing services will recommence when clinically appropriate models are in place.
(g)
The State Government through the WA Country Health Service (WACHS), continues to deliver a range of initiatives to recruit and retain staff in the regions and Carnarvon including ongoing medical recruitment, including increasing rural generalist pathway initiatives, continuing the WACHS Paid Student Midwifery Model, creating a streamlined specific recruitment pool for to fill midwife vacancies and planned regional networked recruitment model to support caesarean sections. Carnarvon is also an endorsed location for a $7,000 incentive paid over 12 months for new and existing midwives.
(h)
Five for midwives.
WA Country Health Service currently has an open recruitment process for General Practitioner or GP obstetricians (GPO) and GP anaesthetists (GPA) for Carnarvon Health Campus. Since February 2022, there have been four recruitment drives for both GPA and GPO
(i)
Nine midwife applications, 42 GPA applications and 31 GPO applications were received.
(j) A fly-in fly-out model is being considered for midwives, with WACHS continuing discussions with the union regarding suitability for Carnarvon.
Temporary.
(b-c)
208, all of which have claimed reimbursement
(d)
Carnarvon women are fully funded for relocating to access birthing services, including full cost of accommodation, travel and groceries. This has totalled $1,434,555.
(e)
Expectant mothers can choose from a variety of State public and private birthing services in Western Australia.
(f)
Birthing services will recommence when clinically appropriate models are in place.
(g)
The State Government through the WA Country Health Service (WACHS), continues to deliver a range of initiatives to recruit and retain staff in the regions and Carnarvon including ongoing medical recruitment, including increasing rural generalist pathway initiatives, continuing the WACHS Paid Student Midwifery Model, creating a streamlined specific recruitment pool for to fill midwife vacancies and planned regional networked recruitment model to support caesarean sections. Carnarvon is also an endorsed location for a $7,000 incentive paid over 12 months for new and existing midwives.
(h)
Five for midwives.
WA Country Health Service currently has an open recruitment process for General Practitioner or GP obstetricians (GPO) and GP anaesthetists (GPA) for Carnarvon Health Campus. Since February 2022, there have been four recruitment drives for both GPA and GPO
(i)
Nine midwife applications, 42 GPA applications and 31 GPO applications were received.
(j) A fly-in fly-out model is being considered for midwives, with WACHS continuing discussions with the union regarding suitability for Carnarvon.
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