‘Anything can go wrong’: Doctors express concern over Gladstone maternity announcement

Baffled doctors have reacted to an announcement by Health Minister Yvette D’Ath that birthing will reopen at Gladstone Hospital to women with “no known risks”.

Doctors have raised the alarm over the Health Minister’s announcement that Gladstone maternity services have been reopened to women with “no known risks”.

The Australian Medical Association Queensland chief Maria Boulton reports that a “no risk” category does not exist in obstetrics, there is only “low risk” and even then labour can go very badly wrong even when there are no red flags or known complications.

The president said a whole team of midwives, nurses, anaesthetists and obstetricians need to be on staff at all times to ensure safe births.

Australian Medical Association Queensland chief Maria Boulton. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Dr Boulton said that research shows that as many as 50 per cent of women deemed “low risk” will need obstetric involvement to deliver the baby.

“Any labour ward needs to function like an emergency department with staff at hand for all situations. Things can drastically change even when there is no known problem early in labour,” she said. The unit has been on bypass for 279 days.

Well-known Queensland obstetrician Gino Pecoraro said that while the women of Gladstone were keen to be able to have their babies in their home hospital it was important to make sure safety measures were in place.

“This safety, must not be sacrificed for expediency or to dampen adverse political recriminations,” he said.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Emma McCahon assured that a full multidisciplinary maternity care team was on hand.

“From today, where no known risks are identified by the maternity team, birthing will be available at Gladstone Hospital. We anticipate this move will halve the number of transfers to Rockhampton,” Dr McCahon said.

The chief executive said that the intention was to return to full services by June,” contingent on suitably qualified staff being recruited”.

Jemma Manwaring a mothers’ maternity advocate in Gladstone said that the news from the CQHHS was welcomed but she was concerned that there would be a long delay in the return to full services.

“This was a surprising update to receive as in a previous conversation with Emma McCahon on March 31 it was indicated that it could be 12 months before the bypass is fully resolved,” she said.