Dandenong maternity ward to remain despite telling staff and union otherwise
After days of silence Monash Health has ruled out its proposal to temporarily close its Dandenong maternity ward despite telling staff and the union otherwise.
South East
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After six days of silence, the largest maternity provider in the state has ruled out plans to temporarily close its maternity ward at Dandenong Hospital despite telling staff and the union otherwise.
Monash Health said on Wednesday that no maternity services have shut down at the hospital and no reconfiguration has commenced.
“There are no plans to close maternity services at Dandenong Hospital and it is important that women continue to attend appointments at the hospital,” a spokesman said.
This is despite a letter that was sent to staff dated January 28 this year that detailed the proposal over six pages.
In the letter, Monash Health said the decision was made because of Covid and the state government declaring a code brown for Victorian public hospitals.
“Monash Health proposes to temporarily relocate Maternity, Newborn and Paediatric inpatient services from Dandenong Hospital as part of Monash Health’s Code Brown response,” it read.
“Monash Health recently activated Stage 4 Surge Workforce response for its midwifery workforce across all three maternity sites until at least March 22 2022.”
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian Branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said the change was a positive move.
“This is a positive decision for women who need to be able to access these services in their local community,” she said.
“We look forward to further discussions with Monash Health to reduce the pressures on our midwifery members at Dandenong Hospital.”
Ms Fitzpatrick said on Tuesday she had received a proposal from Monash Health to temporarily relocate Dandenong Hospital’s maternity, special care nursery and paediatric services.
First-time mum Tanya Bilandzic told Leader on Tuesday that she was feeling anxious with the fate of the hospital’s maternity ward.
“I’m feeling extremely emotional,” she said.
“The fact that six weeks out we have this added level of pressure of not knowing if we will have a last-minute change of venue is just making everything more stressful.”
Dandenong Maternity Ward was expected to be relocated to Casey Hospital Ward.
Mrs Bilandzic, who is due to give birth to a baby girl on March 20, claimed the drive to Berwick was much further away.
“I can’t understand how they will have the capacity to equally care for me and baby when they’re already at capacity themselves,” Mrs Bilandzic said.
“I’ve been so confident in sticking with the public system but private might be the next alternative for me.
“I understand it’s not the case for everyone and it’s an added expense you don’t anticipate but the fact that the government hasn’t provided the adequate support to such a big hospital is just so disappointing.”
Mrs Bilandzic said the proposal added stress to her pregnancy.
“I haven’t had my husband with me for any subsequent scans or appointments with the hospital despite being double jabbed and we would be more than happy to provide a negative PCR if that’s applicable,” she said.
“At what stage do we move forward from this?”
Mrs Bilandzic said she contacted Monash Health on Tuesday and was told to “call back later”.
In a staff meeting held on Monday, it’s believed that Monash Health said the changes would start in four weeks time with the closure lasting six months.
“Midwives don’t really have any answers,” an employee told Leader.
“They are so lost in all of this and so anxious, they don’t know what to tell women because they have no answers themselves.”
Monash Health provide care to more 10,000 women each year across its three hospitals in Dandenong, Clayton and Berwick.
