Births increase by 33% at Dalby hospital

Dalby hospital has seen the biggest baby boom in five years, as revealed in 2017-18 annual report

BABY BOOM: Clinical midwife Jo Byers, Acting Nurse Unit Manager Jane O'Donnell, and clinical midwife Bec McCosker from Dalby Hospital. Picture: Meg Gannon

THERE has been a 33% spike in the number of babies born in Dalby hospital.

The birth of 240 babies in 2017-18 at Dalby Hospital was a massive increase on the 180 births in 2016-17.

This is the largest number of births at the hospital in the past five years.

The increased activity in deliveries was the highlight of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service annual report, released recently.

The report also said Dalby Hospital played host to two graduate midwives and three nursing graduates.

Director of nursing Bronwyn Luxon was pleased with the work of the graduates during the year.

"Our three nursing graduates will be staying on at Dalby Hospital as they were recruited to permanent nursing positions,” Ms Luxon said.

"This is good news for them, our hospital and the local community that they enjoy working here and were keen to stay beyond their graduate year.”

In 2017 a renal service began at Dalby Hospital, consisting of two haemodialysis chairs.

This service has the capacity to treat four patients a day.

Ms Luxon believes the need for renal services will continue and expects to see more growth in the next 12 months.

"Demand for the local renal service, which started in January 2017, continues to grow and we are looking to increase the number of days this very important service in offered,” she said.

"We have very positive feedback from local patients about being able to access haemodialysis close to home.”