West Stowe mother, Tina Vee shares “horrific” journey north to Rockhampton as Gladstone Hospital forced to turn her away during labour

Central Queensland’s hospital service is under increasing pressure to act as more nightmare stories emerge of labouring women being turned away from Gladstone as the hospital’s bypass stretches beyond two months.

Despite having accommodation plans due to her local hospital’s birthing unit remaining on bypass, another Gladstone mother was forced to take a “horrific” journey more than 100km north as her newborn arrived a week early.

Pressure is mounting on the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service to lift its bypass and return birthing services to the Gladstone Hospital as more nightmare stories emerge exposing the human toll of the policy decision.

West Stowe mother Tina Vee attended a community forum in Gladstone on Monday to share her story and stand with local midwives who cannot speak for themselves just days after she was turned away from her local hospital during labour.

West Stowe mother, Tina Vee had plans to stay in Rockhampton ahead of her daughter’s birth, however, she went into labour ten days before her due date. Picture: Nilsson Jones

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Hoping to avoid the stress of travelling 90 minutes up the Bruce Hwy while in labour, Ms Vee and her young family made accommodation plans in Rockhampton around the time her newborn, Scarlett, was due to arrive.

However, that planning was made redundant when Ms Vee went into labour 10 days early while sitting around the campfire on Friday night.

After travelling to Gladstone Hospital — the closest to West Stowe — as women are still required to present there for assessment, she was then told she could either wait for an ambulance or organise her own travel to Rockhampton.

Not wanting their firstborn son to travel in the car with them while Ms Vee was in labour, the couple had to leave their vehicle and baby seat so he could be collected, leaving them without a car.

More than 100 people turned out for a community forum at Auckland House regarding Gladstone Hospital‘s maternity services. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Thankfully, a Gladstone Hospital staff member unknown to the couple offered to drive them to Rockhampton.

Ms Vee was aware wait times for other labouring women had extended beyond three hours and without dedicated patient transport in the region, she felt guilty about taking an acute ambulance off the road.

Ms Vee described labouring in the back of a vehicle as “horrific” and said it was “ridiculous” that the car had to travel back past her home after being turned away from Gladstone.

During hospital visits throughout her pregnancy, Ms Vee said she heard other “horror stories” from women during the bypass which made her more anxious as the due date approached.

Tina with her second born child, Scarlett, who was born at Rockhampton Hospital as the bypass meant she could not birth at Gladstone. Picture: Nilsson Jones

“I was pretty stubborn and I really wanted to have our second child here in Gladstone because this is our home and this is where I had my son,” Ms Vee said.

“I got more nervous after hearing the stories and decided to organise accommodation up there (Rockhampton) because how could you live with yourself if something did happen.

“It’s a long labour in a hospital and town that you don’t know, with faces you’ve never met before so it wasn’t the best.”

Following the birth of Scarlett on Saturday morning, minor complications meant she was not allowed to return to Gladstone Hospital and Ms Vee had to make “split decisions” about being away from her son and being in Rockhampton without a car.

“It’s not just about the cost (of travel), it’s about the emotional toll it takes, you know my son couldn’t even be with me a day after I have his little sister … it’s just not cool,” she said.

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

Ms Vee said she felt obliged to attend the Gladstone maternity forum, hosted by Maternity Consumer Network director Alecia Staines on Monday afternoon, and was encouraged by the level of support the event received.

“I know the midwives feel pressure to stay because they don’t want to leave here with no one but they can’t speak for themselves and that’s why I’m here to support them,” she said.

Monday afternoon’s event fielded questions from expecting women and the experience of mothers who have given birth since the bypass was implemented.

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 bypass decision.

CQHHS chief executive Dr Emma McCahon said CQ Health understood the bypass of birthing services at Gladstone Hospital was a stressful time for expectant mothers and their families.

“Access to obstetric and gynaecology staff has been a statewide issue across Queensland. Gladstone Hospital has also been impacted by long-term sick leave of obstetrics and gynaecology specialists,” Dr McCahon said.

“Until qualified medical professionals can be recruited to cover long-term leave and vacancies, birthing services at Gladstone Hospital will remain on bypass.

“Gladstone Hospital birthing services will only be reinstated when we can ensure the safe provision of care for mothers and babies.

“We are committed to returning birthing services to Gladstone Hospital when it is safe to do so and delivering a sustainable long-term solution for maternity care across Central Queensland.

Dr McCahon said while CQ Health had made a number of short-term changes, including upgrading equipment and fast-tracking recruitment of administrative and nursing positions to provide additional support to our maternity units while they worked towards a solution.

“The hospital is in contact with all women due to deliver soon to update them on the situation. Our priority is the safety of those who rely on our service,” she said.

“Expectant mothers with concerns or questions are encouraged to phone or come to the Gladstone Hospital Women and Newborn Unit where they will be assessed by experienced midwives and an appropriate and safe plan will be put in place.

“I thank our wonderful team of skilled and dedicated midwives for their unwavering commitment and for continuing to provide top-level care to our community.”

Originally published as West Stowe mother, Tina Vee shares “horrific” journey north to Rockhampton as Gladstone Hospital forced to turn her away during labour