Workforce shortages have forced Epworth Geelong to suspend new maternity bookings and the department could close its doors altogether on March 1 next year.
Epworth has entered consultation with all impacted staff, unions and doctors and while new maternity bookings have been paused, the decision does not impact other clinical services at the private hospital.
Epworth HealthCare group chief executive Dr Lachlan Henderson said workforce shortages across the maternity healthcare industry meant it could no longer offer the service.
“Workforce shortages in nursing and midwifery are being experienced globally, and throughout Australia and our repeated, extensive efforts to recruit midwifery staff at the Epworth Geelong Maternity unit has met with limited success,” Dr Henderson said.
“A high quality service requires a minimum number of skilled and competent midwifery, nursing, allied health and specialist medical practitioners, across a 24-hour, seven day per week period.
“We have made the difficult announcement of our proposed closure. After consultation is complete, if a decision is made to close, the closure of our Epworth Geelong Maternity service is anticipated to occur on 1
March 2023.
“Everyone who works in our Epworth Geelong maternity unit has shown an amazing dedication to this service. We are incredibly proud of our midwives, specialists and maternity support staff who have provided
exceptional care to families in the Geelong region since the service commenced in 2017.
“We are working with our obstetricians to contact all booked maternity patients. To assist, we have established a dedicated Epworth Geelong Maternity concierge service.”
Booked patients can call 9426 0622 from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday to discuss their individual circumstances.
“Epworth Geelong has seen a significant expansion of other services in recent times, including the opening of an additional theatre, expansion of our ICU, cancer, cardiac and neurosurgery services,” Dr Henderson said.
“We have also increased the emergency department’s hours from 16 hours to 24 hours a day.”
The maternity service at Epworth Freemasons continues to operate, with no change.
