Logan Hospital maternity bed shortage forces new mums to wait and go home early

A bed shortage in the maternity ward of a major South East Qld hospital is forcing new mothers out, even when medical concerns arise, as the facility struggles with a birth boom.

New mum Alyssa Wyatt, pictured with her new baby, was forced to wait for two days before having a caesar, and then had to leave the Logan Hospital maternity ward after only two nights despite her newborn having severe reflux issues.

A busy southside hospital is booting new mums out of its maternity ward after two nights because of a lack of beds.

Logan Hospital’s 34-bed maternity ward, is expecting to have 397 births this month and a further 500 next month.

New mum Alyssa Wyatt gave birth to her baby boy on Thursday after her caesarean was delayed by two days because there were no available beds.

Despite her pleas to stay an extra night so her baby could adjust to reflux, she was told there was no room and she had to leave on Saturday morning.

The new mum was shocked when midwives told her that the ward was at capacity and there was a two-day maximum stay because they needed her bed as they had already started sending new mothers to beds in the children’s ward.

Logan is one of the fastest growth areas in Queensland and the Logan Hospital posted this on social media in 2019 when the maternity ward had to contend with 32 births in two days. Now the hospital is looking at 500 births next month.

“My baby had reflux and I wanted to stay an extra night to speak with a pediatrician about the problem but I was told that there were no beds and women coming in to give birth were a higher priority,” the new mum said.

“I could not believe it when they told me that those coming into the ward were taking beds in the children’s ward.

“The new wing is beautiful and very modern but to only have 34 beds in a maternity ward that services the fastest growing area in the state is ridiculous.

“I felt I wasn’t being listened to as I explained to staff I was feeling anxious and worried about my baby and wanted to stay one more night so he could be further monitored.

“A midwife told me the expected number of births at Logan in March is up to 500 – why isn’t there the capacity to cater for such a growing population?”

Logan and Beaudesert Health Service Executive Director Anne Coccetti said about 4000 babies were born every year at Logan Hospital (or about 333 a month) with the hospital coping with more than 2330 this financial year.

Logan Hospital caters for one of the state’s fastest growing regions. Picture: Queensland Health

“Despite a higher number of births than usual at Logan Hospital over the last 48 hours, all women and babies continued to receive high quality care by trained midwifery and obstetric clinicians in the Division of Women’s and Children’s Services,” Ms Coccetti said this week.

“Logan women have access to various models of care including – but not limited to – Midwifery Group Practice, Maternal Foetal Medicine and Birthing in Our Community services that facilitate timely and appropriate care for our community.”

The refurbished and expanded Logan Hospital Maternity Inpatient Unit was opened in 2022 with 30 beds which is set to expand to 36 beds early in April.

New birthing suites with birthing pools opened in 2023 and a new, bigger neonatal unit opened in January with the Logan Maternity Services Refurbishment scheduled to be completed by June.

Along with the Logan Hospital Maternity Refurbishment Project, 30 peri-natal mental health beds were also opened across the state as part of the Easier Access to Health Services Plan.

In 2023, the state government completed an $18.875 maternity refurbishment project which included eight birthing pools and five more birthing suites.

A Queensland Health image showing a new birthing suite in one of the new maternity rooms at Logan Hospital.

The suites feature LED lighting, the ability to play music and a shower head to provide extra comfort during labour. The suites will also feature separate, large bathrooms and room for partners to rest.

Despite those improvements, the Logan Hospital ward remains under pressure while Queensland faces a chronic shortage of specialist clinicians.

A review of regional maternity services by the federal Department of Health and Aged Care in December found significant workforce shortages in key roles such as obstetrics, anaesthetics and midwifery.

Inside one of the new maternity rooms at Logan Hospital, which is at capacity and turning women away.

The National Maternity Workforce Review Phase One Report investigated the maternity workforce strategies and plans across Australia.

It recommended training and hiring more doctors, nurses and midwives, and directing resources to where they were needed most to strengthen maternity services.

All women’s in-hospital care at Logan Hospital is in accordance with Queensland Clinical Guidelines.

Originally published as Logan Hospital maternity bed shortage forces new mums to wait and go home early