Gladstone Hospital maternity bypass forum at Auckland House hosted by Maternity Consumer Network demands answers from Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service

More than 100 concerned locals have attended a Gladstone community forum fighting to reinstate birthing facilities as the local hospital’s bypass stretches beyond two months.

More than 100 concerned locals have attended a Gladstone community forum fighting to reinstate birthing facilities as the local hospital’s bypass stretches beyond two months.

Questions about a mother’s right to deny travelling to Rockhampton and how many births have been diverted since the bypass began have dominated the opening minutes of the community meeting, which was being held Monday afternoon at Auckland House.

More than 100 people turned out for a community forum at Auckland House regarding Gladstone Hospital's maternity services.

Expectant mothers, alongside families who have recently given birth, are sharing their anxiety and recent experience as they seek to understand why Gladstone Hospital can no longer support a level three maternity service.

Maternity Consumer Network founder, Alecia Staines, demanded more from the CQHHS as she claims poor management is to blame, rather than widespread shortages, which is the reason often repeated by the state health bureaucracy.

More than 100 people turned out for a community forum at Auckland House regarding Gladstone Hospital's maternity services.

Mrs Stainer said she had been a long time advocate for better service in regional parts of Australia, and reiterated she had never seen a level 3 hospital (Gladstone Hospital) on bypass for this long, which has now stretched beyond two months.

She said research showed roadside births in Australia had increased by more than two hundred per cent in recent years as services continue to be pulled from regional centres and concentrated in large population hubs such as Brisbane and Rockhampton.

West Stowe mother, Tina Vee had her second child, Scarlett, over the weekend and relied on a Gladstone staff member to drive her to Rockhampton while she was in active labour as her plan to travel and stay in Rockhampton before the birth was made redundant after her water broke ten days early.

West Stowe mum, Tina Vee gave birth over the weekend, ten days early, which meant the plan to travel and stay in Rockhampton was thrown out the window. Picture: Nilsson Jones

A local chiropractor was one of more than a dozen women who bravely spoke about their experience as many more asked questions seeking advice on the current situation and how to best secure the return of birthing services in Gladstone.

She said, in her experience, there had never been more issues with mothers trying to feed than in the previous six weeks and stress was “absolutely” impacting birthing outcomes for Gladstone women.

Criticism was levelled at the “poor management” of the local Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service and towards Gladstone MP, Glenn Butcher.

Mr Butcher was unable to attend the meeting due to ministerial duties in Brisbane.

An online petition, created by Flynn MP Colin Boyce has already attracted more than 2700 signatures, and a physical form of the petition was also provided at the maternity forum on Monday afternoon. Picture: Nilsson Jones

The event was also attended by state Callide MP, Bryson Head, and federal Flynn MP, Colin Boyce who both pledged their commitment to pressure the state government to reinstate birthing services at Gladstone.

Mr Head said he represented an electorate with 14 hospitals — none of which have an active maternity service — which he says contributed to a Chinchilla woman giving birth on the side of the Warrego Hwy as the local hospital turned her away and advised she travel to Dalby.

Gladstone Regional Council Mayor, Matt Burnett attended the event to listen to the concerns of residents, however, he did not speak.

It comes after Mount Larcom father Paul Sorensen spoke out about his family’s “nightmarish” mercy dash to Rockhampton where his wife would undergo an emergency caesarean.

Originally published as Gladstone Hospital maternity bypass forum at Auckland House hosted by Maternity Consumer Network demands answers from Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service