Matt Hewson
St John of God Geelong Hospital and Barwon Health have “categorically” refuted claims Geelong is in the midst of a maternity services crisis following the closure of Epworth Geelong’s maternity ward.
It was reported last week that women in the Geelong region were facing the possibility of being sent up to 75km away to have their babies delivered due to hospital staff shortages.
St John of God chief executive Stephen Roberts dismissed the notion of a crisis, saying he was extremely proud of how his staff had responded in the past six months.
“Essentially, it was a doubling in volume in a very short period of time, but we’ve been able to absorb all of the work that’s come out of Epworth so far and we’ve delivered every baby that has been booked with us,” Mr Roberts said.
“No woman has been transferred from here to deliver elsewhere. In that time we were on bypass for a total of six hours during those many months.
“But we have in place, as all reputable health services should, a bypass protocol for circumstances that might arise if something unexpected emerges. Can you guarantee that won’t happen? No. Has it ever happened? No, it hasn’t.
“We’ve had really productive conversations, collaboration and partnership with Barwon Health to ensure the scenario of sending women outside of the region doesn’t eventuate.”
Barwon Health clinical director of women’s and children’s services, Associate Professor David Fuller, said the situation had been misrepresented.
“(Suggesting women might be sent up to 75km away) is a gross exaggeration,” he said.
“Barwon Health has certainly not been on bypass because of staff shortages ever in my time, and I’ve been here for 20 years.”
Associate Professor Fuller reiterated Mr Roberts’ statements about the productive partnership between Barwon Health and St John of God.
“We’re fortunate in Geelong that we’ve got excellent maternity services, both in the private and the public setting,” he said.
“They work collaboratively and well together. And where the capability level required for receiving care in the private (setting) is greater than what’s able to be provided, we’ve got the capacity to provide that in the public setting.
“We work co-operatively together for the best outcomes for mothers and their babies.”
