St John of God, Barwon Health team up to address maternity shortfall

St John of God Geelong and Barwon Health have teamed up to tackle pressure on maternity services.

St John of God Hospital Geelong. Picture: Alison Wynd

Paediatricians and neonatal nurses will be recruited to work across Barwon Health and St John of God Geelong to address pressure on maternity services.

Barwon Health will provide paediatric services for St John of God Geelong’s maternity services under the partnership, with five paediatricians employed by Barwon Health rostered to work across both hospitals.

A new neonatal nurse practitioner program will also be introduced, with three neonatal nurse practitioners recently employed to work closely with paediatricians across both hospitals in providing newborn care.

Neonatal nurses have specialist skills and have long been employed across Melbourne hospitals, but the partnership marks the first time they have been used in Geelong.

The announcement follows a well-documented paediatrician shortage in the region.

In July obstetricians raised concerns St John of God would be unable to admit new maternity patients and could go on bypass, which the hospital denied.

SJOG CEO Stephen Roberts, Barwon Health Women’s and Children’s clinical director Dr Dave Fuller, Neonatal nurse practitioner Gemma Wiley and SJOG Women’s and Children's services manager Alicia Strong.

In June, St John of God’s maternity ward reached capacity and could not accept new patients.

Geelong’s only other private maternity unit at Epworth Geelong closed earlier this year.

Epworth blamed staff shortages.

Barwon Health women’s and children’s services clinical director Associate Professor Dave Fuller said the partnership would help address workforce shortages.

“With ongoing workforce challenges in the health sector across Australia – and particularly in

rural and regional areas – it is important we collaborate across both hospitals in Geelong to

ensure the highest standard of paediatric care,” Prof Fuller said.

“The development of the neonatal nurse practitioner model in Geelong strengthens the care

at both hospitals and is an important pathway for highly skilled nurses to fully utilise their

skills.

“This agreement will attract more neonatal paediatricians to work in our region, and

contribute to the further development of both health services.”

Prof Fuller said neonatal nurse practitioners were “high skilled and equivalent to very experienced medical trainees with their level of expertise”.

St John of God Geelong Hospital chief executive Stephen Roberts said the partnership was an example of the public and private systems working together.

“This partnership is an innovative solution that ensures this region continues to have access

and choice to high-quality maternity services close to home, using a model that has been

successful elsewhere,” Mr Roberts said.

Originally published as St John of God, Barwon Health team up to address maternity shortfall