Health Minister Yvette D’Ath announces some services will return to Gladstone Hospital maternity unit as bypass nears grim milestone

Some services will return to Gladstone’s maternity unit from tomorrow, as the Health Minister reveals more issues compounding the shortages of obstetric services across Queensland. Here’s the latest

Queensland’s Health Minister has revealed some maternity services will return to the Gladstone Hospital from tomorrow, almost 100 days after a bypass was declared.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath announced that planned caesarean procedures would resume at Gladstone Hospital from Friday (October 14) with a statement released by the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service on Thursday afternoon.

It comes after a full-bypass of Gladstone’s maternity unit was declared on July 8, with unplanned leave and statewide shortages of specialists - namely obstetricians - often cited as the reason by CQHHS and the state government.

Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher made the bold claim that he would resign from his position if services did not return.

Ms D’Ath said the following stage would be reinstating birth services where the hospital could ensure 24-hour cover for emergency cases, and finally a return to full maternity unit services.

“So that is really good news, we know there is a shortage of obstetricians across the state and across the country right now, this is extremely challenging,” Ms D’Ath said.

#breaking Health Minister @YvetteDAth reveals CQHHS will this afternoon announce the beginning of maternity services returning to #gladstone. From tomorrow planned c-sections are back (s1). Dates unknown for 24/7 emergency cover (s2) and full-services (s3) @couriermailpic.twitter.com/tYHGHP0Uvy

— Nilsson Jones (@nilssonjones_) October 13, 2022

Following the announcement, Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates said anything short of fully-restored birthing services was not good enough, and labelled it a political solution, not a patient solution.

“Merely reinstating planned caesarean sections is not a solution to this problem,” Ms Bates said.

“It won’t stop babies being born on the side of the road putting the safety of mothers and their babies at risk,” she said.

“Why did this solution only suddenly appear just hours after a local member and Minister was asked about the future of his job in Parliament?”

Ms Bates claimed until maternity services at Gladstone are fully restored, local MP Glenn Butcher’s offer to resign remains ‘on the table’.

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates during a news conference at State Parliament, Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston.

According to CQHHS, extensive work has been done to recruit qualified medical professionals to cover long-term leave and vacancies, whilst also building a framework for a maternity care network across the region as a safe and sustainable solution.

Chief Executive, Dr Emma McCahon said the timeline of the next phases will depend on staff availability but the community will be informed as soon as they are determined.

“As we finalise recruitment of a full birthing team will be able to provide more services,” Dr McCahon said.

“I understand this has been an incredibly stressful time for expectant mothers and their families as we work to return a safe and sustainable birthing service to Gladstone Hospital,” she said.

CQHHS Chief Executive, Dr Emma McCahon said the first step of a phased approach to re-introduce birthing services at Gladstone will be reintroduced from FridayOctober 14. Picture: Aden Stokes

Dr McCahon said expectant mothers with concerns or questions are encouraged to contact the Gladstone Hospital Women and Newborn Unit where they will be assessed by experienced midwives and an appropriate plan will be implemented.

The Health Minister also revealed an external stakeholder recently informed her that current graduates entering the workforce with obstetric and gynaecology qualifications were making the “lifestyle choice” to only work in gynaecology.

“Those physicians are finding they don’t necessarily want to go into obstetrics, which normally means a lot of late nights, weekends and call-outs and gynaecology is becoming the preferred path,” she said.

“That really concerns me and it is a conversation that we need to have nationally.”

The Gladstone Hospital maternity unit has been on full bypass since July 8, after months of interrupted services. Picture: Nilsson Jones

It is understood federal Health Minister, Mark Butler, is meeting with the Australian Medical Association to discuss the national healthcare workforce shortage.

A statement from CQHHS was released on Thursday afternoon.

More to come.