‘No confidence’ in Portland District Health after birthing suite closed

A coastal town in south-west Victoria is begging the government to save its hospital after its birthing suite closed following years of “systematic structural problems”.

South-West Coast MP Roma Britnell addresses the crowd at a forum demanding action after Portland's hospital temporarily closed its birthing suite. Picture: Supplied

The Portland Community Health Group says it has “no confidence” in the local hospital after it closed its birthing suite earlier this month after years of “systematic structural problems”.

More than 100 people voted in favour of organiser Ellen Linke’s motion at a forum at Portland Civic Hall on Sunday.

It comes as women booked to give birth at Portland District Health (PDH) are forced to drive more than an hour to the nearest hospital after birthing services were suspended for at least three months.

According to a review commissioned by the hospital, the closure followed years of staff shortages, poor education and training opportunities and “flawed” strategic planning.

Robert Harvey, the only eye specialist at PDH who has since resigned, says he has tried to attract ophthalmologists to the region over four years and failed.

He said his last day is on Thursday because his request to become a visiting medical officer was denied.

Had it been approved the eye service — with more than 150 patients — would have continued uninterrupted, he said.

“The number of midwives we have has not changed suddenly. All seven local midwives are keen to do the job they were trained for,” Dr Harvey said.

“The Health Minister Martin Foley has said in parliament that he agrees with the pause in

birthing for three months on safety grounds.

“We disagree – it is vital that we resuscitate maternity as soon as possible (and) the midwives say they want to continue.”

South-West Coast MP Roma Britnell spoke to a crowd of about 100 people at a forum demanding action in response to the local hospital closing its birthing suite. Picture: Supplied

Ms Britnell with Portland’s Samantha Rutter, a mother from Portland who now fears she may be giving birth on the side of the road. Picture: Supplied

At the forum on Sunday the group also agreed to demand the health minister remove the board and replace it with an administrator to implement recommendations from a review made publicly available for the first time last week.

The review found PDH had staff shortages, insufficient training and education opportunities and ineffective integration with regional services.

It said funding was not the critical issue, but a systematic structural problem had made the hospital model “flawed”.

Despite the report stating PDH accepted the recommendations, South West Coast MP Roma Britnell says the concerns are ongoing

“This is not the sort of thing that will keep people in town if you can’t have the fundamentals like a birthing service,” she said.

In a statement last week PDH said structural problems had put pressure on the health service in recent years.

“Deep-seated structural problems – that have formed over many years – are putting significant pressure on their ability to deliver quality healthcare for our community,” PDH chair professor Peter Matthews said.

On Tuesday Dr Matthews said PDH would remain open and the birthing suite closure was only temporary.

He maintained the hospital did not have the midwife staff available to meet the demand.

The hospital advertised for midwives on March 25, more than a week after the suspension of the birthing suite was announced.

“The hospital has had a great deal of financial difficulties,” he said.

“This has been the case prior to my time at Portland District Health.”

Dr Matthews added: “We are in constant discussion with all the people we need to be to get the service open again and as quickly as we can, but it must be safe.”

He also spoke in favour of appointments made by the government.

“If the (health) minister wishes to change it (the board), he can and will.”