Ayr Health Service maternity unit bypass forces mum to travel to Townsville to give birth to baby

The risk of overworking surgery staff has forced a regional maternity ward to close at the weekend, sending a pregnant mother north to give birth to her child.

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THE RISK of overworking surgery staff has forced a regional maternity ward to close at the weekend, sending a pregnant mother north to give birth to her child.

Ayr Health Service maternity unit was put on bypass, a period of time where services are diverted to another hospital, for two days at the weekend to avoid burning out certain staff.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service confirmed one Burdekin woman booked in to give birth at Ayr was forced to travel the one-hour trip to Townsville to have her baby.

Burdekin MP Dale Last said he hoped the bypass was not a sign of worse things to come for regional maternity services in North Queensland.

The Ayr Health Service maternity ward was put on bypass at the weekend. Picture: iStock

“Maternity services in Ayr are essential for the community and, many times, the value of having this service in Ayr has been proven,” Mr Last said.

“I have no intention of letting yet another rural maternity unit close and will fight tooth and nail to prevent it happening in Ayr.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes said the bypass was planned to rest perioperative clinicians at the hospital.

“Perioperative clinicians are critical to the safety of birthing services as they can safely perform an emergency C-section should a woman require it,” Dr Keyes said.

“It is unsafe to operate a birthing suite without this skill set.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Services Chief Executive Kieran Keyes said it was unsafe to operate the maternity unit without the key surgical staff.

Dr Keyes said all women booked in to give birth at the Ayr Health Service were briefed by their midwives about the possibility of travelling to Townsville to give birth.

One woman was required to give birth at Townsville University Hospital during the bypass period.

“Birth is unpredictable and it is important that clinical care is planned in preparation for any eventuality to ensure the safety of all mothers and babies.”

In recent decades, 41 regional Queensland hospitals had closed birthing services, according to Maternity Consumer Network.

Protest rally held by local residents at Theodore over the closure of the Birthing Unit at Theodore Hospital in 2018.

Mr Last said if more staff are needed, every step should be taken to ensure this didn’t happen at Ayr again.

“All over Queensland, Labor has stood by while maternity units have closed and have done little, if anything, to address the risks of women giving birth on the side of the road.”

Queensland LNP Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the staffing issues needed to be urgently addressed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“If you take Bowen as an example, the government promised a review of the maternity services available. The truth is there were no services yet, more than 12 months later, there is still no sign of the review.”

Ayr Health Service maternity services returned to normal on Monday and Dr Keyes said this would not be a regular occurrence.

Originally published as Ayr Health Service maternity unit bypass forces mum to travel to Townsville to give birth to baby