Independent panel hands down findings into review of maternity services at the Royal Hobart Hospital

An independent review into maternity services at the Royal Hobart Hospital has handed down 38 recommendations with one key issue seemingly plaguing the ward.

The Royal Hobart Hospital K-Block entrance. Picture: Linda Higginson

Department of Health Secretary Dale Webster has apologised to mothers who had negative birthing experiences while using maternity services at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH).

His comments come after a review of the RHH’s maternity services found that staffing issues and shortages have plagued the quality of care new mothers receive, among other identified problems.

An independent panel conducted the review and made 38 recommendations “aimed at driving change and improvement.”

Most of the recommendations are related to staffing, the administering of medication, and care policies and processes.

The review was conducted after the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) wrote to the Department of Health in August, expressing safety concerns with maternity services at the RHH.

Before the review was established, there were claims that a baby had died at the hospital due to understaffing.

However, the panel could not determine any association between a stillbirth or neonatal death related to a delayed induction of labour.

Tasmania’s Chief Nurse and Midwife Francine Douce said the independent panel received more than 50 submissions and conducted around 61 interviews.

“The panel have heard for many women who access our services, it is a positive and a happy experience,” Adjunct Professor Douce said.

“But we’ve also heard for some women and families that is not the case, and the report clearly tells us we need to do better.

“I want to acknowledge the women and families who bravely came forward to share their stories; that is not an easy task.

“We recognise that for many of these women, we’ve fallen short of what’s reasonably expected of our health services - and we should be held to high standards of maternity care, and we are committed to doing better.”

Mr Webster said he was sorry for any standard the health department’s maternity service at the RHH did not meet.

“But I also want to emphasise that our staff are continually working to improve standards,” he said.

“Our staff deliver around 4000 babies a year, and the vast majority of families report to us that their care was of a high standard.

“But we’ve got to learn from those few that aren’t at that standard, and for those families, I do apologise.”

ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd welcomed the panel’s report.

“The Independent Panel has confirmed the vast majority of issues our members have raised,” Ms Shepherd said.

“But given the sheer volume of recommendations, there is clearly much more work to be done to both affect them and make the much-needed improvements for staff, women and babies.

“The ANMF calls on the State Government to support the recommendations with adequate funding and resourcing to ensure the widespread system changes are achieved.”

Labor Health Spokeswoman Ella Haddad also called on the government to implement the recommendations.

“The health department’s staffing crisis is well documented, and it’s unsurprising that several of the recommendations relate to adequate staffing levels and practices in RHH’s maternity ward.”

Originally published as Independent panel hands down findings into review of maternity services at the Royal Hobart Hospital