Community
23 August, 2024
Birthing services set to resume soon
FOLLOWING outrage in the Camperdown community after a “temporary pause” of birthing at Camperdown Hospital, South West Healthcare have announced services will resume shortly.
In a post on South West Healthcare’s Facebook page on Monday, it was detailed birthing services at Camperdown Hospital were temporarily reduced from level three capabilities to level one capabilities to allow a review to take place “following a series of unexpected birthing events”.
“This decision was not taken lightly but was taken quickly, so that this review could be completed, and any changes required could be implemented,” the statement read.
“The initial review into the unexpected birth events is now complete, and we are working closely with our teams to make the changes required so we can recommence birthing at Camperdown Hospital
“At no stage in this process was a decision to close the Camperdown birthing service ever considered or made and we will be resuming birthing services very soon now the review is complete.”
According to the South West Healthcare statement, similar reviews are a common occurrence.
“Changes to birthing service capability levels has occurred at Camperdown Hospital several times within the last 12 months and it is not uncommon in a rural area,” the statement reads.
“Whilst changes to capability levels is not our preferred option, it happens for a number of reasons including staffing and doctor coverage and so we can work with expectant mothers, families and other health services when this happens.
“During this temporary pause, all other maternity services (pre and post birthing) continued to be available to mothers in our local community.”
According to the South West Healthcare statement, “South West Healthcare is very proud of the maternity services provided across both our Camperdown and Warrnambool campuses, with Camperdown Hospital performing a very small number of low risk births each year, with seven babies birthed at the service this year and 16 in 2023”.
Western Victoria Region MP Bev McArthur welcomed the news of an impending resumption of birthing services at Camperdown.
She said the shock suspension of services “blindsided local medics and expectant mothers, as well as alarming community members wary of ever-reduced local health services”.
“In the last few days I have received a significant amount of correspondence from local residents extremely supportive of the caring, professional and safe environment provided by Camperdown maternity services staff,” Mrs McArthur said.
“It is a testament to the huge value our community places on local medical services, and their gratitude to those who provide them.
“I have also heard from a number of expectant mothers, due to give birth in Camperdown over the next few months, who relied on the service and were upset at the announcement.”
Mrs McArthur said while she was relieved to hear the news, she questioned whether the result would have been the same without the “enormous and impassioned community response, and the sustained media coverage”.
“South West Healthcare’s statement implies that what happened was simply routine, and that no threat to the service ever existed,” she said.
“That does not accord to any of the information I have received, and the ‘spin’ employed does little to reassure me.
“At best these events show a catastrophic failure of communication – but in my view it is more likely that serious consideration has been given to downgrading or ending the service.”
South West Healthcare was contacted for comment about the birthing pause and resumption of services on Tuesday but no further information was provided ahead of publication.
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