Bargara woman pregnant with twins forced to fly 1000 kilometres to Townsville Hospital

A woman in danger of prematurely giving birth to twin boys has been forced to fly to Townsville due to a shortage of emergency hospital beds in southeast Queensland.

A young woman in danger of prematurely giving birth to twin boys has been forced to abandon her loving family and travel more than 1000 kilometres to Townsville due to a shortage of emergency hospital beds in southeast Queensland.

Jaime Walker from Bargara said daughter Chloe McKay, who is 29 weeks’ pregnant, was flown from Bundaberg to Townsville on Friday night, leaving behind distressed partner Jason Shillingsworth and daughter Peyton, aged just 14 months.

Ms Walker, a residential youth worker, said Bundaberg Hospital was not equipped to deal with premature babies under 32 weeks’ gestation and there were no neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) beds available in Brisbane.

“We know we’ve got a failing public health system but I’ve always been impressed with their care in maternity and antenatal,” she said.

She said the lack of NICU beds in the south had added to the strain in Townsville, which “had to cover the top half of the state”.

“Townsville has taken on even more, which we are very thankful for,” Ms Walker said.

Jason Shillingsworth and partner Chloe McKay with their daughter Peyton, 14 months. The Bargara family have been torn apart after Chloe, 21, was forced to travel more than 1,000 kilometres to Townsville University Hospital without her family after fears she would prematurely give birth to twin boys. Picture: Supplied

She said it was an exciting time for the family when they found out that twin boys were on the way but Chloe had endured a “tricky pregnancy.”

She said that excitement had become a nightmare after Chloe was flown unaccompanied by family to Townsville, a more than 11-hour drive north.

“That first night especially, she’s obviously still very young, she’s 21, and she was scared and without her partner and without her baby,” she said.

“We don’t know people in Townsville and she was in there alone wondering what is happening; she’s very disconnected from her partner and family.”

Ms Walker said Chloe had been with Jason, who is Indigenous, since they were 14.

She said Jason, who is very family orientated, had panicked when he was told his partner was being flown so far away but was coping better now that he had a plan in place to get to Townsville.

“Jas has never been on a plane his entire life, it’s been a big fear but he’s ready to get on top of it to get up there to be with her,” she said.

Townsville University Hospital. Picture: Evan Morgan

Ms Walker said they would not have been able to pay for Jason’s flight from Brisbane to Townsville on Thursday morning if it were not for a GoFundMe page she had organised to help the struggling couple.

She said the site had so far raised $1500 to help cover the costs of the flight, which was not covered by the government, and mounting expenses.

Ms Walker choked back tears as said the public’s support for the family’s predicament “made me cry”.

“Honestly, everyone is doing it so tough at the moment and just our friends and family were so quick to dig in and help with what they could,” she said.

“The day before it just seemed like it was all impossible to get anyone up there to support her … it restores your faith in humanity, it’s making me cry just talking about it.”

Ms Walker said Chloe was doing much better and the contractions had eased for now.

“She’ll pick up a lot having Jason up there with her, it will help with the stress.”

A Queensland Health spokesman said there had been a strong demand for neonatal service cots in the greater Brisbane area, however occupancy on the Gold Coast was now at a normal level.

“Bed availability is dependent on the patient’s condition and nursing staff availability.

It is not unusual for women with high-risk pregnancies in regional Queensland to be transferred to Townsville University Hospital,” the spokesman said.

“This hospital’s neonatal care intensive unit (NICU) is the only level 6 tertiary-referral centre for newborns outside of southeast Queensland and is currently experiencing normal occupancy levels.

“It is not currently under pressure, nor has it been in recent months.

“Patients who travel more than 50km to access a specialist service can access the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS). This may also apply to the partners of pregnant patients.”

There are ore than 90 neonatal service cots across Queensland, with 14 at Townsville. .

The Townsville University Hospital has a special care nursery for babies who not require ventilation but have high-care needs.

Originally published as Bargara woman pregnant with twins forced to fly 1000 kilometres to Townsville Hospital