Overdue birthing service is right on time for expectant Weipa mum

A western Cape York mum has welcomed the state government’s announcement that birthing services will be provided at Weipa Hospital, starting next month.

Weipa resident Elizabeth Weidman is expecting her third child in July. She has previously traveled to Atherton to give birth to her first two children, but will now be able to stay at home for her third child's delivery, after the Queensland Government announced that birthing services will return to Weipa Hospital. Picture: Brendan Radke

Wrangling two cheeky boys and managing a busy job makes leaving home difficult at the best of times for long-term Weipa resident, Elizabeth Weidman.

So, when the western Cape York mum, who’s expecting her third child in July, learned that birthing services would be re-established at Weipa Hospital soon, she felt a sense of relief.

“At 36 weeks (pregnant) you are required to leave Weipa,” Ms Weidman said.

“You’ve got to organise accommodation, a rental car. You’ve got to re-engage with whatever hospital you’re going to.

“In most cases, you’ve got to leave your partner behind. It can be quite stressful.”

Ms Weidman gave birth to her first two children in Atherton near family but after more than a decade living in Weipa, said she now considers the remote mining town home.

“The fact that I can be in Weipa with my support network, family and feel confident about having a positive birth experience is really exciting,” she said.

“I haven’t had that experience, so I’m really excited that I’ll be able to do that.

“It’s great that women have the choice. With Weipa growing and given that it’s a hub for surrounding communities I think it’s an essential service that’s well overdue.

“It’s a positive thing for the community and there are a lot of women, like me, who are excited about it.”

Expectant mothers will be able to give birth in Weipa from May 22, following the appointment of an obstetrician to the role of medical services director and a new head of midwifery.

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service’s Western Director of Medical Services, Dr John Hall said birthing services had additional benefits for the region.

“One of the important things about providing a birthing service to a community is access to emergency services,” Dr Hall said.

“It enables us to provide other operations, higher level emergency services and acute and critical care.”

As part of the Rural Maternity Taskforce Report in 2019, the state government pledged to reopen Weipa’s birthing suite in late 2021 and again in 2022 but failed to recruit the staff required to effectively run the service.

Originally published as Overdue birthing service is right on time for expectant Weipa mum