❓ Ms. Beard questions the Minister for Health about the delayed reinstatement of permanent midwifery services at Carnarvon Health Campus. The Minister responds, citing safety, volume, and workforce challenges, while guaranteeing safe birthing experiences in public hospitals.
AnsweredQoN 299Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MATERNITY SERVICES — CARNARVON
299. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's
comments that the most important thing to any delivering mother and child is
safety, and her promise to reinstate permanent maternity services to the
Carnarvon Health Campus, which after two years has yet to happen. Will the
minister guarantee the return of Carnarvon's midwifery services in the
2024–25 budget; and, if so, when can mothers expect this important
service to be returned?
299. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's
comments that the most important thing to any delivering mother and child is
safety, and her promise to reinstate permanent maternity services to the
Carnarvon Health Campus, which after two years has yet to happen. Will the
minister guarantee the return of Carnarvon's midwifery services in the
2024–25 budget; and, if so, when can mothers expect this important
service to be returned?
AnswerView source ↗
As I have outlined previously, and
I am more than happy to do again, the provision of maternity services, particularly
regionally, is not a matter of budget; it is not a financial matter. It is a matter
of safety, volume and workforce. They are the critical considerations when it
comes to delivering regional birthing services. There are maternity services in
Carnarvon. It is absolutely not true. The opposition continues to pedal
untruths; there are maternity services at Carnarvon. What is not available at
the moment are birthing services. Because of the number of births that are
steady and that occur in Carnarvon, it is impossible for midwives and a general
practitioner obstetrician to maintain their currency of practice. That is just
a reality of numbers, unfortunately. We are working with the WA Country Health
Service, which is working with the Australian Nursing Federation, around a fly-in
fly-out model, around midwifery groups practices and around a whole range of
other workforce models that will enable us to restart those birthing services.
In the meantime, we can absolutely guarantee that they will be provided with a safe
and quality birthing experience in a public hospital. That is what we guarantee—a
safe birthing experience in a public hospital, and it will be financially
supported to do so.
I am more than happy to do again, the provision of maternity services, particularly
regionally, is not a matter of budget; it is not a financial matter. It is a matter
of safety, volume and workforce. They are the critical considerations when it
comes to delivering regional birthing services. There are maternity services in
Carnarvon. It is absolutely not true. The opposition continues to pedal
untruths; there are maternity services at Carnarvon. What is not available at
the moment are birthing services. Because of the number of births that are
steady and that occur in Carnarvon, it is impossible for midwives and a general
practitioner obstetrician to maintain their currency of practice. That is just
a reality of numbers, unfortunately. We are working with the WA Country Health
Service, which is working with the Australian Nursing Federation, around a fly-in
fly-out model, around midwifery groups practices and around a whole range of
other workforce models that will enable us to restart those birthing services.
In the meantime, we can absolutely guarantee that they will be provided with a safe
and quality birthing experience in a public hospital. That is what we guarantee—a
safe birthing experience in a public hospital, and it will be financially
supported to do so.
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