❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding the temporary closure of maternity services in Carnarvon since February 2022, detailing government actions, recruitment efforts, and impacts on families.
AnsweredQoN 474Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the closure of maternity services in Carnarvon since February 2022, and I ask : (a) is this closure temporary or permanent; (b) what is the timeframe to restore services to normal operations; (c) please detail the specific actions the State Government is undertaking to address this service closure including offering remote area incentives, relocation allowances; (d) has the government progressed the concept of a fly-in fly-out model offering GP-led obstetrics and midwives; (e) please detail the recruitment campaign, including number of applications received; (f) how many pregnancies have there been in Carnarvon per quarter since the closure of the maternity service; (g) how many births have there been in Carnarvon per quarter since the closure of the maternity service; (h) how many families have sought reimbursement for travel and accommodation incurred due to this closure; (i) what is the total the state government has spent on travel and accommodation reimbursements to date; (j) please identify which hospitals women were diverted to as a result of maternity services not being provided locally in Carnarvon; (k) do mothers have a choice of hospital; and (l) could mothers and children stay at a Medihotel rather than a motel?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 September 2025
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
8 days
(a) Temporary.
(b) Timeframes are not able to be provided due to the complex nature of permanent workforce availability.
(c) WA Country Health Service (WACHS), with support from the State Government has:
In addition, the WA Government has agreed to a new industrial award for doctors that recognises the skills and value of specialist General Practitioners and incentivises specialist Rural General Practitioners, a key medical workforce required for rural maternity services.
(d) Yes.
(e) Please see breakdown of recruitment below:
From February 2022 to August 2025, there have been six (6) recruitment drives for General Practitioner (GP) Anaesthetists (GPA). Regular recruitment activities have focussed on GPAs. These are GPs with additional training in anaesthesia. There were 48 applications in response to the GPA recruitment drives, however none were registrable to work in Australia as a GPA.
Since February 2022, there have been six (6) recruitment drives for GP Obstetricians (GPO’s). Regular recruitment activities have focussed on GPO’s. These are GPs with additional training in obstetrics. There were 39 applications in response to the GPO recruitment drives, with one registered to work in Australia and is currently under assessment for suitability.
From February 2022 to April 2025, there have been five (5) recruitment drives for Midwives. Nine (9) midwife applications have been received, with five (5) not eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency and three (3) having limited experience therefore deemed not suitable. One (1) contract has been issued.
WACHS has open ended midwifery recruitment pools with targeted boosted advertising on relevant recruitment platforms. From April to August 2025 two midwife applications were received for Carnarvon, and both were successfully recruited.
(f) Since the closure in February 2022, there has been a total of 336 pregnant women referred to the Carnarvon Midwifery services. See chart below for breakdown per quarter.
Year
Quarter
Antenatal Referrals
2022
13
2022
32
2022
18
2022
9
2023
30
2023
2
21
2023
3
22
2023
4
15
2024
1
23
2024
2
25
2024
3
27
2024
4
26
2025
1
35
2025
2
22
2025
3
18
(g) Two births since February 2022.
(h) 259 families.
(i) $1,706,535.15.
(j) Most clients have gone to King Edward Maternity Hospital or Geraldton, with a small number of mothers going to other public and private hospitals.
(k) Expectant mothers can choose from a variety of State public and private birthing services in Western Australia, with considerations relating to the management of any clinical risks.
(l) Yes.
(b) Timeframes are not able to be provided due to the complex nature of permanent workforce availability.
(c) WA Country Health Service (WACHS), with support from the State Government has:
In addition, the WA Government has agreed to a new industrial award for doctors that recognises the skills and value of specialist General Practitioners and incentivises specialist Rural General Practitioners, a key medical workforce required for rural maternity services.
(d) Yes.
(e) Please see breakdown of recruitment below:
From February 2022 to August 2025, there have been six (6) recruitment drives for General Practitioner (GP) Anaesthetists (GPA). Regular recruitment activities have focussed on GPAs. These are GPs with additional training in anaesthesia. There were 48 applications in response to the GPA recruitment drives, however none were registrable to work in Australia as a GPA.
Since February 2022, there have been six (6) recruitment drives for GP Obstetricians (GPO’s). Regular recruitment activities have focussed on GPO’s. These are GPs with additional training in obstetrics. There were 39 applications in response to the GPO recruitment drives, with one registered to work in Australia and is currently under assessment for suitability.
From February 2022 to April 2025, there have been five (5) recruitment drives for Midwives. Nine (9) midwife applications have been received, with five (5) not eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency and three (3) having limited experience therefore deemed not suitable. One (1) contract has been issued.
WACHS has open ended midwifery recruitment pools with targeted boosted advertising on relevant recruitment platforms. From April to August 2025 two midwife applications were received for Carnarvon, and both were successfully recruited.
(f) Since the closure in February 2022, there has been a total of 336 pregnant women referred to the Carnarvon Midwifery services. See chart below for breakdown per quarter.
Year
Quarter
Antenatal Referrals
2022
13
2022
32
2022
18
2022
9
2023
30
2023
2
21
2023
3
22
2023
4
15
2024
1
23
2024
2
25
2024
3
27
2024
4
26
2025
1
35
2025
2
22
2025
3
18
(g) Two births since February 2022.
(h) 259 families.
(i) $1,706,535.15.
(j) Most clients have gone to King Edward Maternity Hospital or Geraldton, with a small number of mothers going to other public and private hospitals.
(k) Expectant mothers can choose from a variety of State public and private birthing services in Western Australia, with considerations relating to the management of any clinical risks.
(l) Yes.
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