Six health professionals to start at Roma, Charleville hospitals

A new injection of government funding will help mothers in southwest Queensland have their babies closer to home. Here’s what will change.

Two part-time doctors and four midwives are set to start at Roma and Charleville hospitals to bolster the maternity and birthing services in the region.

Across three locations, South West Hospital and Health Service birthing services help deliver an average of 245 babies per year.

SWHHS chief executive Dr Anthony Brown said birthing services in South West Queensland were available at Roma, St George and Charleville hospitals.

“We know how important birthing services as close to home as possible are for our rural communities,’’ Dr Brown said.

With the help of a new state government funding package to the tune of $42 million, SWHHS has been able to recruit two doctors specialising in obstetrics, and four midwives, to support people through pregnancy and childbirth in more regional parts of the state.

Dr Brown said two part-time doctors with “advanced skills in obstetrics” would “support birthing and maternity services at Roma and Charleville Hospitals.”

He also said while the four midwives had not yet been recruited, two would provide birthing support from Roma Hospital, while the other two would provide support from Charleville Hospital.

“We are very proud of our extensive maternity and birthing services here in the South West and these additional medical and midwifery positions will further strengthen our services for our rural communities,” Dr Brown said.

Roma Hospital midwife Sophia McQueen said she enjoyed supporting country families through midwifery.

“Country mums are so tough, loving, and a jack of all trades, and it is such a privilege to be able to support and empower them,’’ Ms McQueen said.

“I am a local and live on a property in Dulacca and it is so special knowing women have the opportunity to birth in their community with a midwife they know and trust, just down the road!

Ms McQueen helped deliver her first baby, Robert, to mother Kayla Sargeant, on Mother’s Day.

“It was just the most beautiful Mother’s Day surprise! How perfect as a midwife empowering and supporting women on this day specially made just for this! It was such a privilege to be a part of Kayla’s birth of her baby Robert.”

Roma Hospital midwife Sophia McQueen and Roma resident Kayla Sargeant with her Mother’s Day baby Robert.

“Those memory-making moments after a little one enters the world is so special with each baby I deliver. I can never not shed a little happy tear!’’ she said.

“Being a midwife in my home town is the perfect combination of loving what do, where I do it!”

Originally published as Six health professionals to start at Roma, Charleville hospitals