Better maternity services for Gold Coast

The Palaszczuk Government has today announced a four point plan to ensure continued safety in maternity services on the Gold Coast.

Health Minister Cameron Dick said that while Gold Coast University Hospital continues to deliver above average performance across maternal health care indicators, it is important to ensure that this performance is sustained.

“On Friday, I met with midwives and clinical leaders who make the Gold Coast one of the best places in the world to have a baby,” Minister Dick said.

“However, it is clear that maternity services have become more complex in recent years, with considerable growth in the number of births, as well as an increase in the number of expectant mothers presenting with a range of complex medical needs.

“Maternity services across Queensland were also hurt by LNP cuts of 125 full time equivalent midwives and nurses working in maternity statewide, including in training, education and support areas, representing an 8 per cent reduction in this workforce.

“While these cuts have been reversed by the Palaszczuk Government with the addition of more than 280 full time equivalent midwives and nurses in maternity services across the state, midwives on the Gold Coast are telling us the system is still under pressure from increasing demand.

“We want to ensure we continue to support our hardworking midwives and nurses with the right staffing and the right models of care.”

The Government’s four point plan will:

1. Immediately establish four new midwifery positions as permanent roles at Gold Coast University Hospital, while a staffing review is undertaken;
2. Require the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service to report monthly on midwifery rosters, which must be signed off by the head midwife in advance, while the staffing review is being undertaken;
3. Commence reviews of midwifery staffing levels at all public maternity units in Queensland; and,
4. Continue the work of three action groups initiated by a Maternity Services Forum held in November 2016 to improve clinical leadership, best practice management of labour, and models of care within maternity services in Queensland.

Professor David Ellwood, Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Gold Coast Health and current Chair of the Queensland Maternal & Perinatal Quality Council said Gold Coast University Hospital maternity service continued to deliver high quality services in treating its patients.

“Across key clinical indicators, both process and outcomes based, Gold Coast University Hospital performance stands out among its peers at a national level,” Professor Ellwood said.

ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Michelle Wellington 0437 323 834