Concerns over how Epworth Geelong maternity closure would affect women’s choice

Women have raised concerns about stripping expecting mums of a secular, private hospital option in Geelong if Epworth closes its maternity unit. Here’s why.

Armstrong Creek mum Naomi Mathias with children Heike and Otto Hunter at Epworth Geelong. Picture: Supplied

Women have raised concerns about stripping mums of a secular, private hospital option in Geelong if Epworth closes its maternity unit.

The provider is in a consultation phase after it announced a proposal to close the Geelong maternity service on March 1.

Naomi Mathias had her second child at Epworth Geelong in August through Geelong Maternity Group after moving to Armstrong Creek.

Ms Mathias said going through the private system was important to her.

She had three miscarriages before her first child was born.

“My only other private healthcare option (in Geelong) was St John Of God and I’m not religiously affiliated,” Ms Mathias said.

“I would obviously have some concern about the Catholic code of ethics and how that intervenes with women’s healthcare.

St John of God Hospital Geelong is a Catholic facility.

“I haven’t had direct experience of that.”

The former Melbourne resident said there was probably a lot more choice in the capital.

“It would definitely concern me to not have that (secular) option,” she said.

“It’s a very personal experience to go through.”

St John of God Geelong Hospital did not specify what services it does not provide due to its Catholicism, but it’s understood the hospital does not conduct terminations.

It’s understood women requiring terminations for medical reasons are transferred elsewhere, including Barwon Health.

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said it provided a comprehensive range of women’s health services, including reproductive healthcare such as contraception and termination services.

“We are confident there is capacity to meet the needs of the community if Epworth close

their maternity service,” she said.

It’s understood that depending on the clinicians who work at Epworth and the clinical situation of the patient, terminations are provided and may continue to be provided if the maternity unit closes.

A St John of God Geelong Hospital spokeswoman said it would continue to deliver the range of maternity services that it currently does and its position remained unchanged.

“We have commenced modelling for our own planning purposes only and we are confident that we can increase capacity to meet the needs of this cohort of mums and provide them with a private birth as they had planned,” she said.

Australian Patients Association chief executive Stephen Mason said the organisation was concerned about the possible closure of the Epworth Geelong maternity unit.

“Geelong is a rapidly growing city which needs more healthcare facilities not less, and it covers a wide catchment area,” he said.

Mr Mason said Geelong and its residents deserved choice and the maternity closure would mean that there was no private secular hospital option for mums in the region.

“It would be a sad loss for Geelong,” he said.

Originally published as Concerns over how Epworth Geelong maternity closure would affect women’s choice