Epworth Geelong maternity unit in final days before closure

The maternity ward at Epworth Geelong is entering its final days. Here’s what’s next for staff.

The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation state secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

The maternity ward at Epworth Geelong is in its final days, with the future of the space unclear ahead of its closure on Friday.

The healthcare provider controversially announced closure plans late last year, blaming staffing shortages.

A campaign to save the unit was unsuccessful and the closure was confirmed in February.

Epworth Geelong executive general manager Leonie Lloyd said the future use of the maternity unit space had not been discussed.

A handful of bubs are booked in to be born this week.

Leonie Lloyd at Epworth Geelong.

“Any patients in labour at the hospital at midnight (on Friday) will have their babies at Epworth,” she said.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said the union understood a number of the midwives had secured ongoing work at St John of God Geelong and Barwon Health.

“A number of these midwives were already employed at Barwon Health on a part-time and casual basis,” she said.

Ms Fitzpatrick said this had been an extremely stressful time for Epworth’s midwives and nurses, compounding the challenges they had faced during the ongoing pandemic.

“I would like to acknowledge their dedication to the women in their care and their efforts to save this service that meant so much to them and the local community,” she said.

“We’re working methodically through the termination and severance pay matters for more than 60 midwives and nurses who will be made redundant on 31 March.

“Some midwives, employed on a casual basis, were not eligible for severance payments.

“A small number of long-term casual midwives will receive an ex-gratia payment.

“All midwives who remained with the service since the notification of the proposed closure in November last year will receive a retention bonus equivalent to half the hours they have worked up to 31 March.”

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said the organisation had a “very small” number of new maternity bookings related to the Epworth maternity unit closure.

“Barwon Health is recruiting midwives and some of the midwives from Epworth are part of the recruitment process,” she said.

St John of God Geelong Hospital chief executive Stephen Roberts said births at the hospital were expected to increase between 30 and 40 per cent.

“Significant planning has been undertaken to ensure the safe transition of any women choosing to birth at St John of God as a result of the closure,” he said.

“St John of God has been successful in attracting and recruiting additional midwives from Epworth and outside the Geelong region to support the range of services offered within our maternity program.”

Originally published as Epworth Geelong maternity unit in final days before closure