A return of full time birthing services at Mossman Multi Purpose Health Service does not look to be on the radar anytime soon, according to State Health Minister, Lawrence Springborg.

The statement comes despite announcing a week ago at a Rural and Remote Birthing Summit in Rockhampton that maternity services for country mums needed an improvement in access, and less than a month after announcing 234 jobs would be axed from local health services (see related articles below).

Birthing services at Mossman’s hospital ceased in 2003, with Douglas region mothers since having to travel at least one hour to Cairns Base or Cairns Private hospitals, or one and a half hours to Mareeba to give birth.  Babies are now only delivered at Mossman in emergency situations, patients usually transferred to Cairns post-birth if required.

Last week, Mr Springborg said the Rural and Remote Birthing Summit highlighted the need for mothers throughout Queensland to have more control over their maternity care, with options for rural and remote mothers to give birth safely and closer to home.

However, when The Newsport asked the Health Minister if the Newman Government had any intention of returning full maternity services to Mossman, Mr Springborg said a decision on a re-instatement of Mossman’s services would have to be made locally.

“If I could flick a switch and allow mums to have babies back in their communities straight away, I would,” Minister Springborg said.  “The reality is, however, that once a service is shut down, it is hard to reactivate unless we have the specialised procedural skills in anaesthetics and obstetrics necessary to undertake emergency caesarean sections should they arrive.

“This government has introduced hospital and health boards to ensure that decisions are made locally and in the best interest of the communities they serve. This will be a decision for the local board.

“I have told the board chairs that I have a strong interest in safe and effective maternity models of care.  When and if the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service makes decisions about birthing, it is important that it takes in the views of the community.”

Opposition Health Minister, Jo-Ann Miller, said Member for Cook, David Kempton, should be standing up for his local community and “demanding these outreach services keep the appropriate level of funding and staffing in communities such as Mossman”.

“As part of the framing of the 2012 State Budget, the Health Minister Lawrence Springborg directed the state’s regional health boards to cut their budgets by 3% and make other savings totalling $3 billion over four years, meaning a loss of $17.4 million for the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service,” she said.   “These cuts by the LNP Government put pressure on all frontline health services and force hospitals to focus on acute in-patient services.

“As a result, all outreach services working with regional communities, including obstetrics, will be the hardest hit by the LNP Government’s cuts.  I urge affected people in the Douglas region to contact Mr Kempton’s office and demand their concerns be heard.”

Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre family support worker and counsellor, Siobhan Delgado, said more recently, expectant mums had chosen to drive the one and a half hours to Mareeba rather than have their babies in Cairns.  “I don’t know if that is more to do with Mareeba’s seven weeks after care and follow-up services, as opposed to a possible dilution of after-care services in Cairns,” she said.  “But I’ve found whatever services are offered in Mareeba, mums want the same services offered closer to home at Mossman.”

Ms Delgado said the Neighbourhood Centre’s new parents support group, held on Thursday mornings, was being attended in record numbers, highlighting the need for more birthing and post-natal support.

Related articles:
www.tourismportdouglas.com.au/Health-restructure-continues-NEWSPORT.9167.0.html
<link mossman-hospital-rocked-by-job-losses-ne.9048.0.html>www.tourismportdouglas.com.au/Mossman-Hospital-rocked-by-job-losses-NE.9048.0.html