UPDATE: Birthing services resume at Camperdown
Camperdown hospital will recommence birthing services “very soon” following a review.
A south west Victorian hospital will recommence birthing services after a temporary pause on births, a decision that left expectant mothers worried in the final trimesters of their pregnancies.
In early August, South West Healthcare’s Camperdown hospital temporarily reduced service capability to level one, which services pre and post-natal treatment but does not accommodate planned births.
But following a review, it is understood the hospital is now working to “make the changes required so we can recommence birthing at Camperdown Hospital”.
It is understood birthing services will be resumed “very soon”.
Colac and Warrnambool, which both have hospitals offering maternity services, are at least a 30 minute to hour’s drive for Camperdown residents.
The Weekly Times understands most expectant mothers booked to give birth in the Camperdown hospital discovered the “pause” in births through a statement in the local newspaper.
One expectant mother said: “I live not far from the hospital, so it made sense to have my baby there. It would be good to get some clarity soon — we only know as much as what’s been put in the local paper, so we don’t know how it affects us directly. Do we have to re-book in Warrnambool or Geelong?”
A South West Healthcare spokesperson said no decision was made to close birthing services at Camperdown.
“Following a series of unexpected birthing events across the last week, we’ve decided to take a cautious approach and temporarily change the service capability to level 1 to allow time to investigate these events, with the intent of improving systems and communication regarding Camperdown,” the spokesperson said.
Camperdown has reviewed and changed the capability of services “many times” in the past 12 months, the spokesperson said, “including for a 12-week period between February and May this year”.
“The current process is in no way linked to the health services reform or budgets,” the spokesperson said.
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