Pregnant women forced to drive more than an hour as Portland District Health closes birthing suite

Pregnant women in southwest Victoria now face driving more than an hour to the nearest hospital to give birth because of staff shortages.

Pregnant women in Portland say they have been abandoned after the local hospital closed its birthing suite because of staff shortages.

Portland District Health made the announcement this week, forcing women to drive more than an hour to the nearest hospital.

The health service in southwest Victoria said it would be closed for three months and reviewed every six weeks as the hospital desperately tried to recruit more staff.

Portland mother Ashlea Wilcox said she was forced to give birth in Warrnambool in February.

“They had an anaesthetist there but not one that could do an epidural,” she said.

“Had I needed a caesarean or anything, it couldn't have happened. Portland couldn’t even support me just for a little bit of time in case something high-risk happened.

“It's just super disappointing that I live close to the hospital and had all my pre antenatal care there. Then obviously, when the time came, I had to go to Warrnambool.”

Portland's Ashlea Wilcox was forced to give birth in Warrnambool in February because of a shortage in midwives. Picture: The Darling Folk Photography

Oakah Wilcox was born in Warrnambool in February. Picture: Supplied

Ms Wilcox added: “It's quite hard for everyone, for the parents, for the midwives here. It’s disappointing that they go to work to do their job and have no support to do it properly.

“All the midwives are so amazing and highly skilled, and the doctors put in so much time and effort, away from their family to be out there all day and night, and then they have no support.”

Member for the South West Coast Roma Britnell said those impacted should be able to access fundamental healthcare services.

“The suspension of the maternity services at Portland hospital is extremely concerning,” she said.

Ms Britnell said she sat on the Inquiry into Perinatal Services, which was tabled in 2018 and recommended better workforce planning.

“If the government took note of those recommendations, we might not have the situation Portland mothers are facing,” Ms Britnell said.

Portland District Health said: “We will continue to provide services for our antenatal clinics, birthing classes and domiciliary care during this time.”