Wednesday 8 October 2008

Doctors welcome efforts to keep Bourke maternity unit open

The maternity unit at the hospital has been temporarily reduced to a part-time service, following the recent resignation of a midwife and another midwife taking maternity leave.

Greater Western Area Health Service is now attempting to recruit additional midwives to boost numbers at the hospital.

“There were fears the shortage of midwives at Bourke could see the unit closed down completely, however RDA NSW commends the Greater Western Area Health Service for its decision—and subsequent efforts—to keep the unit operating, albeit on a part-time basis” acting RDA NSW President, Dr Ian Kamerman, said.

“While everyone would prefer a full-time service, the decision to keep a part-time service going recognises the needs of pregnant women in Bourke and the surrounding region to have their babies in their own community.

“The Greater Western Area Health Service deserves our congratulations for exploring flexible arrangements that allow local women to continue to have their babies locally.

“While the ideal situation is for the maternity unit to return to full-time capacity at the earliest opportunity, there is currently a serious shortage of midwives in New South Wales and, until some extra midwives can be recruited to Bourke, a part-time maternity service is far better than no service at all.

“In the meantime, it is terrific to see the Greater Western Area Health Service actively working to recruit more midwives in Bourke.

“Greater Western Area Health Service’s efforts to keep Bourke’s maternity unit open are in stark contrast to other rural hospitals around NSW where maternity and other services are being closed. Unfortunately, local health staffing shortages are often given as the convenient excuse for such closures, despite the fact that there sometimes is no local staff shortage at all or there is no real attempt first made to recruit additional health staff to the locations they are needed” Dr Kamerman said.

Bourke Hospital requires 4.5 midwives to keep its maternity unit open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Local rural GP obstetricians will continue to work within the maternity team to provide obstetric services in Bourke.

Available for interview: acting RDA NSW President, Dr Ian Kamerman, on 0427 241 900.

Media contact: Patrick Daley on 0408 004 890.