“Large region maternity at risk” with fears Gladstone crisis will repeat

The state government had been issued a warning of growing signs a region with three times the population of Gladstone is staring down the barrel of the same type of maternity crisis that has so badly affected the Central Queensland city.

Obstetricians have warned the Queensland government the maternity crisis that saw the collapse of services in Gladstone is about to be mirrored in an even bigger regional city and will pose a nightmare for the newly appointed Health Minister.

Correspondence was sent this week to warn both Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and former Health Minister Yvette D’ath that Cairns Private Hospital’s maternity unit is on the brink of collapse and the fallout would place unworkable pressures on the public system — which is exactly how the Gladstone bypass began.

Without private obstetrics hundreds more births land in public wards and specialist obstetricians leave the region. It is understood Cairns Public Hospital is already working on a strategy anticipating the collapse.

The population of Cairns is estimated at 170,000 while Gladstone is 63,000.

The Australian Medical Association Queensland chief Maria Boulton has also approached Queensland Health on the Cairns issue highlighting her “grave concerns”.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli flew to Cairns on Friday to meet with staff at the private unit.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli at the Cairns Private Hospital. Photo: Supplied.

Staff who work in maternity services at Cairns Private Hospital claim they have been told by the hospital’s chief executive that a decision on the future of the unit would be made in July but that they have received no response when they asked for confirmation from Ramsay Health Care who run the hospital.

“Last year, Cairns Private Hospital gave reassurances to the community that the obstetric unit would continue to function but are currently unable to confirm with us whether we will be able to deliver babies at the hospital beyond July, “ staff reported, in a statement to The Courier-Mail.

There are 150 nervous women due to give birth in the private hospital in coming months who want answers as it is the only private birthing facility north of Townsville, 350 km away.

A spokeswoman from Ramsay Health Care told The Courier Mail that “no decision has been made to close the unit”.

The National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists reports they are aware that the financial viability of the Cairns private services is under serious threat and the association sent a letter to the Premier on Wednesday warning of an imminent maternity disaster in the tropical Far North city.

More than 350 women have babies at the Cairns unit each year and these births would likely end up at the city’s public hospital.

“The closure of the Gladstone private maternity unit was the catalyst that caused the collapse of maternity services in Gladstone, ultimately, both public and private. Then the recommendation by former health Minister Yvette D’Ath, to drive two hours to Rockhampton for maternity services, led to the overwhelming of that unit and the resignation of three obstetricians,” president of NASOG Assoc Prof Gino Pecoraro told The Courier-Mail.

Queensland obstetrician Gino Pecoraro. Pics Tara Croser.

“NASOG has been pleading for the Premier to get involved in this evolving catastrophic reduction in Queensland maternity services. This issue requires intervention from the highest levels and both state and federal governments working together to arrive at a solution.

“It is only a mix of the public and private systems that can deliver the healthcare that our women deserve and demand,” he said.

“The Premier needs to speak to her federal counterpart to urgently implement changes to both the Medicare and the private health insurance systems. Private health insurance must cover pregnancy in all policies. An urgent review of Medicare and private health insurance rebates need to be undertaken so that private care is affordable for women and their families,” the president said.

Dr Maria Boulton from the AMAQ said she had been in contact with doctors at the maternity unit and reached out to management for some clarity on a worrying situation.

“This is what triggered the Gladstone maternity crisis. Private maternity services closed down as people started dropping their private insurance as women have to pay higher premiums for obstetrics cover,” she said.

“This would be a disaster for the Cairns and North Queensland area. If the private maternity services close families will have to go to Cairns Base Hospital which is already at capacity.

“The new Health Minister has to step in here and find a way to keep the private maternity services operating. Queensland Health must act urgently to support and collaborate with private obstetricians, GP obstetricians, paediatricians and anaesthetists to sure up maternity services in Cairns.”

AMAQ President Dr Maria Boulton. Pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman made maternity her priority in the first hours in her new role by visiting the mothers of Gladstone.

Mr Crisafulli is equally worried.

“The failure of the chaotic Palaszczuk Government to react to the cries for help from private obstetricians started a domino effect that created the Gladstone maternity crisis,” he said.

“Now many mothers across regional Queensland can’t birth how, when and where they want, because of eight years of poor planning in our health system. We can’t allow the same mistake in the Far North because any privately operated service closures will put extreme pressure on an already stretched public system.”

A spokesman for Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said The Minister has been made aware of the correspondence and is organising to meet with Professor Gino Pecoraro to discuss his concerns.

“Maternity services will continue in Cairns,” the spokesman said. A senior source said Cairns Public Hospital believed it could accommodate the extra births which could be up to 300 a year.