State government announces funding, equipment to help Portland District Health

The state government has visited a hospital in south-west Victoria plagued by “systematic structural problems” as it explains how it will address the issues.

The state government has thrown $7 million to fix “systematic structural problems” at Portland District Health, a hospital forced to close its birthing suite.

Health Minister Martin Foley visited PDH in south-west Victoria on March 30 where he announced the funding and backed a review which hopes to address long-term issues at the site.

About $7 million was given to the hospital this financial year; as well as $1.5 million in new medical equipment.

It comes after the hospital temporarily closed its maternity services last month.

Mr Foley said the hospital was facing a “temporary set of challenges.”

“What we’re facing, as the board made clear, and the hospital’s made clear, is a very temporary set of challenges when it comes to midwives being available,” he said.

“First and foremost, every decision is made on what’s clinically safe, including the practice.

“There is a temporary shortage of midwives, and that’s disproportionately the case in regional rural communities.

“I know the team is working really hard to fill vacancies, and this will be reviewed every six weeks.”

Mr Foley met with PDH board chair Peter Matthews and Acting CEO Karena Prevettto discuss a reviewwhich recommended the hospital improve accessibility of healthcare services and integration with other health services across the region. It included adopting a rural generalist pathway with a model dedicated medical training pathway to attract, retain and support rural generalist doctors.

Mr Foley said the government was confident the hospital will meet the standards of SafeCare Victoria.

But South-West Coast Liberal MP Roma Britnell said she did not believe the government would support implementing review recommendations.

“They (the government) has shown very clear their colours, and that is we bring in outsiders to get the agenda we want to push through, and we cut services because we don’t care. That is what their form is,” she said.

Ms Britnell, a former nurse, believes the hospital should introduce a new maternity model to keep the birthing suite open and appoint a hospital board of locals.

Portland Community meeting for a rally at Portland Civic Hall after Portland District Health announced birthing service will be temporarily paused

The government’s visit came days after more than 100 people rallied at Portland and moved a motion of no confidence in the hospital’s board.

That followed the closure of maternity services two weeks earlier, forcing women to travel an hour to the nearest hospital to give birth.

Mr Foley said across the state boards with an “unusual makeup” — including people from in and outside the region with diverse backgrounds and skill sets — were ideal.

He said he believed the board had made “substantial progress.”

Former board member Mike Noske said there was gender imbalance in the board now; with seven men and three women.

“Does he think it is appropriate that a male-dominated board appointed by him with a majority of people from outside this community truly think it’s safe for 30 women to drive an hour and a quarter to have their baby after they go into labour?” he said.

The hospital’s new equipment will include new CT scanners, laparoscopic, endoscopic surgery and two ultrasound machines on track for delivery mid-year.