Birthing choices expanded at Townsville Hospital

A new midwifery service is underway in Townsville, giving mums one-on-one midwife care from pregnancy to post-birth.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson and State Member for Mundingburra Lindy Nelson-Carr said the Townsville Hospital Birth Centre team of midwives started taking expectant mums into their care in July.

“We promised Townsville women enhanced maternity services at the last election, and we’re delivering on that promise,” Mr Robertson said.

“This midwifery service started operating last month, and it gives Townsville women more choice when it comes to giving birth.

“A team of four Townsville Hospital midwives is already providing home visits and on call service to the expectant mums involved in the program.

“Construction on the Townville Birth Centre building on the hospital site is progressing well and we’re expecting it to be completed in December.

“We’re expecting the first of the women in this program to give birth in the Birth Centre in mid-December.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said the service was available to low risk women, giving them personal care from a midwife known to them during pregnancy, birth and into the early weeks of childhood.

“More women are seeking low clinical intervention maternity care, as well as holistic support for their antenatal and post-birth care,” she said.

“This service is about giving Townsville women more choice, while ensuring both mother and child have access to specialist medical care when they need it.”

Townsville Friends of the Birth Centre spokesperson Philippa Scott said the commencement of services at the centre was a major milestone for the women and families of Townsville.

“The women who have booked in are now receiving what the World Health Organisation describes as the ‘Gold Standard’ of maternity care for healthy pregnant woman," she said.

Townsville Hospital Birth Centre project officer Mandy Ostrenski said the centre was an important new asset for the growing Townsville community.

“We expect the number of women booked into the Birth Centre will increase to around 20 by the end of the year,” she said.

“The feedback we have had so far from the community is that this choice for birthing will be very popular with expectant mums.”

Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson marked the start of construction on the $2.2 million Birth Centre at a sod-turning ceremony in May.

Townsville is the latest place to benefit from the Bligh Government's expanded maternity services, with Birth Centres up and running in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Mackay.

MEDIA: Sarah Standen on 4796 1041 or Minister’s office 3225 2680