Epworth Geelong maternity closure proposal update expected

Epworth Healthcare has confirmed it will close its Geelong maternity ward on March 31, which will force about 100 women due after that date to shift hospitals.

Epworth has proposed to close its maternity unit in Geelong.

Epworth HealthCare will close its Geelong maternity ward on March 31, forcing about 100 women due after that date to shift hospitals.

Interim group chief executive Cameron Fuller said Epworth Geelong maternity did not have the workforce to support a safe and sustainable service.

The ward closure was initially proposed for March 1, and the extension meant about 45 women would be able to give birth there next month.

There are about 100 women booked to have their baby at Epworth Geelong who are due to give birth after March 31.

Epworth said it was aware this would be a challenging time for each of these women, and their families, and said it was committed to supporting them through this period.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Victorian branch acting secretary Paul Gilbert said Epworth Geelong was competing in a tight midwifery workforce market, but had displayed little initiative in investing in its midwifery workforce.

The union said it had about 64 nursing and midwifery members affected, which could include full, part-time and casual staff.

Rally to save Epworth Geelong maternity unit. Picture: Alan Barber

ANMF said it would continue to support members until the service closed, and this included negotiating redundancies and helping to secure alternative work at nearby services.

Epworth would not say how many people would lose their jobs due to the closure.

Local GP Elise Davey, who spearheaded a campaign to save the unit, said the announcement was devastating.

“We’re all crushed … there was this sliver of hope.”

She said the women of Geelong, their families and medicos were owed an apology.

“I think Epworth has handled this atrociously,” Dr Davey said.

She questioned why the extension wasn’t longer.

“It’s helpful to a small number of women but if you could extend it to one month why couldn’t you extend it to all the women, or the year to address the shortages, rather than announce a permanent closure,” she said.

Epworth would not say why it could not extend to encompass all booked-in mums.

But it confirmed the move was permanent.

Nikita Burke. Picture: Alan Barber

Highton’s Nikita Burke is due to give birth on March 23 and said while this was in the extension period, there was still some uncertainty and she was waiting for further information.

“We’re devastated — it’s a massive loss to the community and the staff,” she said.

“We’re feeling a bit let down by the Epworth.”

Bell Post Hill 35-year-old Tabitha Grenfell’s second child is due on March 16.

She said she was relieved she’d be able to give birth at the Epworth after the extension.

“I was so anxious,” she said.

She said the care she had received after the birth of her first child, when experiencing post-natal depression, was “above and beyond”.

Tabitha Grenfell with her first child. Picture: Supplied

She said she was felt for those who lost their jobs and other mums.

The decision was “awful” for the future of Geelong, she said.

Epworth announced the proposal to close the Geelong maternity ward in late November.

During the two-month consultation phase, Epworth said it consulted widely, including more than 130 meetings and sessions, both group and individual, with impacted staff.

Mr Fuller said feedback provided during the period was carefully considered.

“We have considered many proposals and assessed a number of possible scenarios,” Mr Fuller said.

“Throughout 2022, Epworth initiated ongoing local and overseas recruitment campaigns to address maternity workforce shortages, however Epworth Geelong maternity currently has a shortage of midwives available to cover the 24/7 roster.

“The availability of a consistent paediatric medical specialist workforce in regional areas remains challenging and this has been the case for some time at Epworth Geelong.”

Mr Fuller acknowledged the decision to close the maternity service would be difficult for many people.

“Epworth is focused on providing the best care possible to our patients and is deeply committed to the people of Geelong for the long-term,” he said.

“Both Barwon Health and St John of God have publicly stated they have capacity to accommodate any additional births that were previously planned at Epworth Geelong.”

Maternity staff were informed of the decision on Thursday morning.

Dr Alex Bonner, speaking on behalf of obstetricians from Epworth-based practice OGB Surf Coast, said they were disappointed by the decision which would have “massive consequences” for birthing women and their families throughout the growing region.

“The decision to close an excellent private regional maternity service in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia should be a red flag for maternity services across the country,” she said.

“This is clearly a devastating example of financial bottom lines being prioritised over the health and wellbeing of women and their families.”

Obstetrics practice Geelong Maternity Group, also based at the hospital, said Epworth would not allow the unit to remain opened until all its currently pregnant patients had given birth.

“We have great sorrow in conveying this news to you all, but we wish to acknowledge the tremendous efforts made by our patients and members of the community to try to change the situation,” the group said in a statement.

Dr Elise Davey speaks at a rally to save the maternity unit. Picture: Brad Fleet

“For those of you who now feel anxious or worried as a result of this announcement, please be reassured that the doctors of the Geelong Maternity Group will continue to care for you throughout your pregnancy without interruption; even as we transition to managing your labour and birth at St John of God Hospital.

“The process of transferring records for all our current patients to St John of God Hospital has now commenced.”

Dr Bonner said OGB Surf Coast patients would be transitioned to St John of God Geelong for their births, with the date of transition to be announced shortly.

“Their obstetrician will communicate with them directly,” she said.

Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson, who campaigned to keep the unit open, said Epworth HealthCare’s decision to close its Geelong maternity unit was devastating, and a real betrayal of our community.

“It didn’t even have the decency to keep its maternity unit open long enough so that all existing patients could give birth,” she said.

Originally published as Epworth Geelong maternity closure proposal update expected