General News
16 August, 2024
McArthur seeking answers on pause
MEMBER for Western Victoria Region Bev McArthur is calling for answers following the recent announcement of the temporary closure of the Camperdown Hospital’s maternity services.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Mrs McArthur raised the closure as both a constituency question and an adjournment matter for the Minister of Health.
“Victorians elect governments to manage the state on their behalf and pay taxes so services for the public good can be fairly and efficiently provided - between elections they trust their government to do this,” she said.
“On August 9, Minister, you were quoted in the Premier’s health services media release saying “… these reforms will keep us on track … at the same time protecting the local services we know Victorians trust and rely on.”
“Protecting local services – yet on that same day the Camperdown Chronicle revealed the shock news, shocking even to the doctors involved, that the Camperdown Hospital will be shut for all planned births.
“Minister, how is that protecting local services? How can Victorians trust you with their health service when you promise to protect local services, but their local maternity ward is closed? Can you promise it will be restored immediately and permanently?”
Mrs McArthur said the announcement came as a “shock” to the community, as well as the doctors and midwives that provided the service.
“There was no public comment from South West Healthcare, let alone a consultation,” she said.
“On August 5, without warning, Camperdown clinicians were informed with immediate effect that maternity services would be indefinitely downgraded from level three to level one, ending all planned births.
“A terse statement quoted in the Camperdown Chronicle on August 9 was attributed simply to a South West Healthcare spokesperson - there was no media statement.
“The only outlet given the story was the Camperdown Chronicle.”
The Camperdown Chronicle was not “given the story”, and actively pursued South West Healthcare for details following a concerned resident making contact.
Mrs McArthur alleged the review followed an incident where a woman due to give birth travelled from Colac to Camperdown due to Colac not having an obstetrician available.
“The Camperdown midwife established that as the patient was not yet in labour and her previous medical history suggested some chance of haemorrhage it was safer to travel 50 minutes further to attend the larger maternity unit at Warrnambool, which operates a blood bank,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the rapid progression of her labour meant she gave birth in the Warrnambool hospital car park – safely, however, and with no adverse consequences for mother or child.
“The Camperdown service did the right thing, yet without seeking input from clinicians involved, unidentified South West Healthcare bureaucrats immediately closed the service.”
“The supposed review has no timeline, and the anonymous decision and failure to communicate reinforces the local belief that South West Healthcare wants to close its rural maternity service.”
Mrs McArthur said the review comes despite Camperdown’s maternity services having an “excellent” safety record.
“It is an important pillar of a rural hospital, yet South West Healthcare appear hell-bent on closing it,” she said.
“Management have accorded the doctors involved no respect, with no communication in writing, nor have they consulted the community or even made a public announcement.
“Local medical practitioners are furious, and a walkout in solidarity is a serious possibility, with crippling results for Camperdown health care.”
A South West Healthcare spokesperson rebuked Mrs McArthur’s claims, saying no decision has been made to permanently close the maternity services at the Camperdown Hospital.
“South West Healthcare is very proud of the maternity services provided across both our Camperdown and Warrnambool campuses,” the spokesperson said.
“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.
“Following the conclusion of this review, we will meet with our teams to ensure we address issues going forward and make necessary changes to ensure we can continue to operate a safe maternity service at Camperdown.
“All midwifery care (pre-birth, post birth and care at home) will continue as usual.”
The spokesperson also confirmed the pause was not linked to the recent health services reform or budget.
“The provision of birthing services in any rural location is challenging and it’s not unusual for us to continually review our maternity services and change the capability at Camperdown,” the spokesperson said.
“In fact, this has occurred many times over the last 12 months, including for a 12-week period between February and May this year.
“Whilst changes to service levels provided is not our preferred option, it happens for a number of reasons including staffing, doctor coverage and to ensure clarity when advising patients, families and other health services.
“It’s only ever done to ensure safety, particularly for the mother and baby, which is of paramount importance.”
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