Mackay Base Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology report delayed two months

The long-awaited investigation report into complaints at Mackay Base Hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology department will be delayed again.

An investigation report into Mackay Base Hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology departments will not be handed up until later than expected with another delay in its delivery.

Just hours after $250m was announced to expand Mackay Base Hospital and deliver 128 more beds, the region’s health chief said the report into women’s concerns about their experiences in the departments would be delayed.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service chief executive Lisa Davies Jones said the investigation team was about to move into the final stage of the work “which would take four to six weeks”.

The final report is now expected in August.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service chief executive Lisa Davies Jones.

“I have been clear from the beginning that the independent investigators must be allowed the time they need to do their work and that the process must be fair, and this is why I have agreed to this further extension of time requested,” she said.

“I want to reiterate the importance of the independence of this investigation and the commitment by myself and the health service to not pre-empt the investigation in any way.

“We will provide a further update on timing closer to the conclusion of the

investigation’s work.”

Serious concerns were first raised about caesarean complications in October last year, with claims including cut arteries during the birthing.

Mackay mother Amy Puddy was among numerous women to come forward about her experience at the hospital when her first child Nate Andersen was born in March 2021.

Ms Puddy, 32, said the days leading up to the birth were spent in increasing pain as she lost fluids – something she was told was normal.

By the fourth day, Ms Puddy and her partner Trent Andersen were back at Mackay Base Hospital where a midwife told her that while she and baby Nate were OK, the meconium carried a high risk of infection.

“From the moment I entered the birthing room, I cannot fault the midwives – they were unreal.”