Epworth plans to permanently close maternity ward

Obstetricians at Epworth Geelong have sent an explosive letter to patients ahead of the maternity service’s proposed closure, as expecting mums reveal their distress.

The hospital opened in 2016, with its maternity service starting in 2017.

Shocked expecting mums who were planning to have their babies at Epworth Geelong have spoken of their distress after learning its maternity service is slated to close.

A group of obstetricians from the Geelong Maternity Group, which is based at Epworth, wrote to patients from the hospital saying they were summoned with minimal notice to a meeting where they were informed of the decision to close the maternity unit and to cease all birthing services from March 1, 2023.

Despite Epworth saying there would be consultation, the letter stated “midwives and obstetricians have been informed that the unit will definitely close”.

It said the announcement was a “terrible shock.”

“We are devastated by the news, as are our midwifery colleagues and our practice staff for whom the closure means the loss of their jobs,” it said.

The letter said the doctors were exploring all options for Geelong Maternity Group to continue patients’ care.

“We have petitioned the Epworth Executive to see out their commitment to all our booked patients, including those due to birth on or after 1 March 2023, but they have declined,” the letter said.

Epworth said earlier consultation regarding the proposal was underway and they are contacting all impacted patients. Epworth said if the proposal went ahead the maternity service would likely shut on March 1.

Torquay’s Kim Holding was scheduled to have her first child at the Waurn Ponds hospital in April and had her first appointment at Epworth on Monday.

Later that day the 32-year-old learned of its proposal to close its local maternity services.

Ms Holding chose the hospital after she heard good feedback and because it was close to home.

“It’s very stressful,” Ms Holding said.

“It’s definitely not what you want to hear when you’re having your first baby … but at the same time we’re so lucky in Australia we have all this available.”

Expecting mum Kim Holding was due to give birth at Epworth.

Ms Holding had begun reaching out to other maternity services.

Her cousin Jess Powell was also due to have a baby at the Epworth in April.

She had her first child, now aged one, at the hospital.

The Torquay resident said she was a “bit shocked” by the announcement.

“I thought it was going so well, and we had such a good experience last time,” Mrs Powell said.

She is waiting for further information from the Epworth before proceeding to book a new hospital.

“It is a little bit stressful.”

On Tuesday Epworth would not say how many staff worked at its Geelong maternity service and whether they would be let go.

Epworth also would not say how many mums were booked in to have babies after March 1.

Epworth’s maternity ward is no longer taking new bookings.

Dr Lachlan Henderson, group chief executive Epworth HealthCare, said: “We are actively working with our obstetricians to contact all impacted patients, ensuring they have the necessary support and information needed.”

A St John of God Geelong Hospital spokeswoman said its maternity redevelopment project is expected to be completed in July 2023.

“We will be available to work with Epworth and Barwon Health through any service transition process,” she said.

“St John of God would welcome midwives from Epworth once the future of their maternity service has been determined.”

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said the organisation would work with Epworth Geelong to support any transition of maternity services, should this process be required during or after the consultation process.

“Barwon Health and St John of God Geelong will work together to ensure families are supported throughout their pregnancy and birth,” she said.

“We are confident there is capacity across both hospitals to provide high quality care.

“Barwon Health would welcome Epworth Geelong midwives and other staff to apply for roles at Barwon Health.”

ANMF’s Lisa Fitzpatrick. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said the number of midwives in Australia was growing too slowly to keep up with the birthrate.

“We want to make sure Epworth Geelong has exhausted all initiatives and measures to ensure it is a competitive employer in the private maternity services sector,” she said.

Geelong GP Elise Davey, who is currently on maternity leave after giving birth at Epworth, has started a petition to save the maternity unit.

Dr Davey said her main reason for the petition was one of the benefits of the private system was it relieved pressure off the public system, which was “so stretched”.

“It just seems like a devastating loss,” she said.

Epworth announces proposal to close Geelong maternity services

Epworth has announced plans to close its Geelong maternity services in three months, with the ward no longer taking new bookings.

The health care provider blamed global workforce shortages for the shock move, saying it was unable to recruit and retain staff to run the service.

The $277m private hospital only opened in 2016, with its maternity services launching in June 2017.

The service has previously refused to reveal the number of babies delivered at the hospital, instead providing year-on-year growth percentages. In July a spokeswoman said births at the hospital were up “17 per cent per cent on the previous financial year”.

Epworth HealthCare group chief executive Dr Lachlan Henderson said on Monday afternoon consultation with impacted staff, unions and doctors about the proposed closure was underway.

He would not say how many staff were employed in the ward or how many would be affected by the proposed closure.

“Workforce shortages in nursing and midwifery are being experienced globally and throughout Australia and our repeated, extensive efforts to recruit midwifery staff at the Epworth Geelong Maternity unit has met with limited success,” Dr Henderson said.

“A high quality service requires a minimum number of skills and competent midwifery, nursing, allied health and specialist medical practitioners across a 24-hour, seven day per week period.

“We have made the difficult announcement of our proposed closure. After consultation is complete, if a decision is made to close, the closure of Epworth Geelong Maternity Service is anticipated to occur on 1 March 2023.”

Staff at the Epworth maternity suite when it opened in 2017. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

In 2017 the Geelong Advertiser reported Epworth’s maternity ward included a special care nursery, private rooms with ensuites, a la carte meals, fully equipped birthing suites and medical imaging, pathology and pharmacy services.

Dr Henderson thanked staff for their commitment to the maternity unit and said he was “incredibly proud” of their work.

“We are incredibly proud of our midwives, specialists and maternity staff who have provided exceptional care to families in the Geelong region since the service commenced in 2017,” he said.

“We are working with our obstetricians to contact all booked maternity patients.”

Dr Henderson said all new maternity bookings would be paused during the consultation period. He said the decision would not impact other clinical services at Epworth Geelong.

“Epworth Geelong has seen a significant expansion of other services in recent times, including the opening of an additional theatre, expansion of our ICU, cancer, cardiac and neurosurgery services,” he said.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said it was important to acknowledge that the plans were a proposal and not a forgone conclusion.

“ANMF will meet with members this week to discuss the proposal and provide support during this incredibly anxious time,” she said.

“We will ensure all avenues of recruitment and retention are exhausted.”

Ms Fitzpatrick said that might include introducing a midwifery student employment model or funding nurses to undertake the postgraduate midwifery employment model.

The closure of Epworth would leave the growing region with just two maternity wards – at Geelong hospital and St John of God.

Originally published as Epworth plans to permanently close maternity ward