State government releases statement as Portland baby crisis continues

The state government has spoken about returning maternity services to Portland after the Opposition slammed them for “not paying attention”.

The state government says it is supporting Portland hospital as maternity services in Victoria’s south-west remain closed for the foreseeable future.

In a statement Health Minister Martin Foley said the government was supporting the return of birthing services at Portland District Health after Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the state government was “not paying attention.”

PDH announced on March 16 it would suspend services due to midwife shortages before extending the closure in May for another three months.

“We are supporting PDH to return these services as quickly and safely as possible, but this is not helped by the negative campaign being run by some people who are all talk and no solution, Mr Foley said.

“The decision to extend the pause was not made lightly and it was made in close consultation with PDH’s midwifery team, with the care and safety of patients front of mind.”

Mr Foley said PDH was on its way to returning birthing services.

“PDH is well on their way to returning these services with two new locum midwives recruited and a process underway to develop a new service model that better serves the community, Mr Foley said.

“I want to thank the midwifery team at PDH for work they continue to do in this difficult time including providing antenatal clinics, birthing classes and domiciliary care.”

Last month PDH announced it hired two locum midwives and a rural maternity consultant specialist Fiona Faulks to create a new maternity service model for the hospital.

Portland District Health. Picture: Supplied

In a statement PDH said the hospitals model must change, but recommendations in the review would take years to implement.

“The model for how we deliver care must change, and this has the full commitment from the PDH board and executive. However, the changes recommended by the Hillis Report cannot be actioned overnight and will take many years to implement.”

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said the state government was ignoring Portland in the midst of an acute health crisis.

“There is no doubt that there is a health crisis in our health services right across the state. Here in Portland it is certainly more acute — there needs to be a serious reform of the system which is happening here at Portland hospital, Mr Guy said.

“The government is just clearly not paying attention to Portland hospital. PR visits from the health Minister are not going to fix the issues at Portland hospital.”

It comes after at least nine regional hospitals across the state announced emergency measures due to shortages in recent months.