Queensland Health: Gladstone births remain on bypass as more issues surface at hospital

Expectant mothers and midwives have grown increasingly anxious as ongoing issues at the Gladstone Hospital have resulted in a bypass extending beyond two months, forcing women to travel more than 100km to give birth.

Expectant mothers and midwives have grown increasingly anxious as ongoing issues at the Gladstone Hospital have resulted in a bypass extending beyond two months, forcing women to travel more than 100km to give birth.

Complaints of disempowered staff and secrecy from the region’s health executives have led people to speak out as concerned community members are set to meet next week seeking answers.

A bypass of the Gladstone Hospital maternity unit was formally declared on July 8, forcing women to travel more than 100 kilometres north along the Bruce Highway to give birth in Rockhampton, a journey some have labelled ‘dangerous’ and ‘completely unacceptable’.

Yvette D' Ath at Parliament. Pic Annette Dew

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath previously revealed recruitment issues and unscheduled leave resulted in the Port City being without a resident obstetrician, prompting the decision.

However, allegations of poor management and overbearing executives from the Central Queensland Health and Hospital Service have resulted in advocates calling on the state government for urgent help.

The Maternity Consumer Network is hosting a community forum in Gladstone next week to provide an update on the current situation.

Alecia Staines from the Maternity Consumer Network.

MCN director Alecia Staines said she was extremely concerned after hearing stories from women feeling unsafe and unaware of their options while navigating an already strenuous and anxious period.

“It’s important to hear from the community, for women and their families to tell their stories and find out how they can best secure a timely return of birthing services,” Ms Staines.

“What I do know is that there have been problems with obstetric staffing at Gladstone for some time, and there have been recommendations made … the HHS certainly has questions to answer about how this was allowed to happen.”

The Gladstone Hospital is a level three facility which serves about 60,000 residents in the region and previously delivered 600 births a year on average.

CQHHS executives maintain the shortage of specialist obstetric services is a statewide issue particularly in regional areas, however, Ms Staines says there are issues present indicative of poor management.

“I don’t know of a Level 3 service like Gladstone that has been on bypass for so long, so I think it is unique,” she said.

It can also be revealed that recruitment for obstetric positions at the hospital did not begin until after previous staff had already left.

Multiple staff members who recently returned to the ward after ‘unscheduled’ leave have been redeployed to Rockhampton since last week.

It comes as other midwives and obstetric staff have been directed to work out of Rockhampton, either by travelling each shift or using accommodation apparently paid for through the Gladstone Hospital budget.

People connected to the hospital who spoke to this publication under strict anonymity labelled the situation “traumatising”, “unsafe”, and said Gladstone women were being treated as ‘second class citizens’.

Last week, a memorandum from Rockhampton director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Preeti Patil, was sent to remind staff that all women are to be transferred and how to ‘process’ women declining transfer.

A pregnant woman. Picture: uStock

The directive, viewed by this publication, details how midwives should reassure the patient and family to overcome barriers such as anxiety and inform them that travelling to Rockhampton is for their own safety.

It also provides instructions, described as “vague” by one source, on how midwives should respond in the event of an obstetric emergency such as a post-partum haemorrhage.

Concerning stories have emerged of women presenting to the hospital being turned away at progressed stages of labour, with mothers waiting more than three hours for an ambulance to be available from Rockhampton.

One recent example included a close call with a serious case of fetal bradyarrhythmia (low heart rate).

Another case included a woman who was flown to Rockhampton at a late stage of labour aboard a helicopter not equipped to treat the patient had complications occurred.

Newborn baby boy covered in vertix inside incubator. iStock Image - Generic

When responding to questions, CQHHS would not say how many births had occurred at Gladstone Hospital or Rockhampton Hospital since the bypass was established.

CQHHS chief executive, Dr Emma McCahon, said CQ Health was committed to safely caring for women and babies as close to their home as

possible.

“I understand this is a stressful time for pregnant women and their families, and for our staff,” Dr McCahon said.

“We are committed to continuing to do everything we can to work through this and continue to deliver a safe birthing service for Gladstone, its surrounds, and the wider Central Queensland region.”

Dr McCahon said expectant mothers with concerns or questions were encouraged to phone or attend the Gladstone Hospital Women and Newborn Unit where a safe plan would be put in place.

A petition calling on the state government to provide adequate funding and qualified professionals for the Gladstone Hospital has attracted more than 2,500 signatures.

Originally published as Queensland Health: Gladstone births remain on bypass as more issues surface at hospital