From blunder to bonanza for bush babies: Budget boost for regional maternity services
Remote, regional and rural maternity services will be bolstered with a $42 million boost in the Queensland budget to be handed down next week.
The funding comes as the government remains under pressure over gaps in the stateās maternity services.
Gladstone Hospital had been on birthing bypass since mid-2022 before the hospital reintroduced elective caesareans in October and 24/7 emergency obstetric care in early February.
Women with no known complications can now give birth at Gladstone Hospital, but patients with identified risk factors are still referred to alternative services.
The $42 million investment over four years will expandĀ rural services andĀ increase the capacity for regional hospitals to perform low-risk births.
Flying Obstetric and Gynaecology services,Ā including telehealth-enabled care, will also be expanded.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman acknowledged the impact of the widespread shortage of maternity services in rural and regional Queensland.
Mothers have been forced to travel hundreds of kilometres for medical treatment throughout their pregnancy, with many forced to stay close to essential services to give birth.
āThat has meant it has been tough for many mums and families to have their babies close to home,ā the minister told reporters on Friday.
āI am absolutely determined to deliver for local families because we want women to have the very best health care close to home, especially when it comes to maternity services.ā
The minister said the investment boost would reduce the need for women in regional areas to travel to larger centres.
āWe know that providing maternity services close to where women live significantly improves health and well-being outcomes for both the mother and baby,ā Fentiman said.
Stay informed, daily
āWithout this funding, there is a significant risk of higher incidences of preterm births, as well as increasing cultural distress where women are unable to maintain familial support for birth.
āThis also allows culturally responsive care and ābirthing on countryā to become an accessible service for First Nations women.ā
The minister also hoped the announcement would restore maternity services at Gladstone Hospital.
āI flew to Gladstone, and I met with women, and Iāve met with the health and hospital service there, and I hope to have some very good news about Gladstone being restored to full service very soon.ā
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
