Maternal, child and family health services expansion for Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service
A major expansion to maternal, child and family health services in the Torres and Cape is set to inject much needed manpower into a system struggling with recruitment and retention. Read about the new team being assembled.
Cairns
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A major expansion of Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service maternal, child and family
health services across Cape York is under way, with the planned appointment of six
new clinicians for the region to form a new team with First Nations health workers.
The expansion is a major shot in the arm for a system that has been under pressure from a reported turf war between doctors and midwives that has crippled staff retention and recruitment.
The struggles left both Cooktown and Weipa without birthing services forcing expectant mothers to travel to Cairns or even Townsville to give birth.
The new maternal, child and family midwifery consultants, who are both midwives and child health nurses, will be based in Cairns.
Similar services will also be based in Weipa, to support Napranum and Mapoon.
In addition to the six new clinicians it is expected that four First Nations health worker positions will also form part of the new team.
Together, they will deliver a comprehensive visiting outreach service to communities across
Cape York, complementing Midwifery Group Practices in Weipa and Cooktown and
existing child health services in those locations.
TCHHS executive general manager south Michael Catt was excited about the chance to improve health outcomes for children and families in the Far North.
“We are excited to be working in collaboration with our existing services in our communities to provide the best possible care for Cape York children and families through the addition of this new outreach service,” Mr Catt said.
“We also value the work of First Nations health organisations like Apunipima Cape York Health Council in helping to Close the Gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.”
Mr Catt highlighted the importance of collaboration with existing services to deliver the essential services.
“As a rural and remote health provider, we recognise the need to collaborate with other health
providers to deliver a broad range of essential maternity, child, and family health care services
that target the vital early stages of a child’s life,” he said.
“As we expand our own services in these areas, we will continue to support and work closely
with Apunipima and other service partners to maximise positive health outcomes for all our
communities.”
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Originally published as Maternal, child and family health services expansion for Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service
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