“Midwives have told the mothers that they are unsure if services will continue and the future looks bleak,” said Witte.

However, the Executive Director of Rural & Remote Services, Gabrielle Honeywood, said there is currently no plan to stop midwifery services at Mossman Hospital.

“Midwives working at the hospital support local women with antenatal and postnatal care, with birthing services taking place at Cairns Hospital,” she said. 

Cairns Hospital’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, Michael Hutchinson, said women will continue to have access to antenatal and postnatal care in Mossman. However, a full MGP model of care at Mossman Hospital has not been available for more than a year.

“It is currently under review, the Health Service is examining the best practice to ensure the safety of patients and staff,” he said.

Witte, who works directly with the Cairns Hospital to strive for better maternity health care for the entire FNQ region, said there are still three part-time MGP midwives in Mossman.

“These midwives have no knowledge the program is under review,” she said.

Witte said the Midwifery Group Practice ensures that women receive dedicated, consistent care throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period and it also allows families to form a strong relationship with their midwife.

“A 2013 Australian study showed that this model of care was safe, cost effective and led to fewer interventions for women,” she added.

“This service no longer provides 24/7 care. Traditionally women are always able to contact a midwife from their MGP. I cannot stress how much easier and safer it is to be able to speak to a known midwife at any time about any problems during pregnancy or the postnatal period.”

According to Witte, midwives are essentially not involved with the birth unless it occurs at the Mossman Hospital before women have had the chance to travel to Cairns.

“Women have to call Cairns for advice and travel for labour assessments. This is unacceptable due to the sheer distance as well as unsafe road conditions. There is risk of babies being born on the road.”

Witte said that while the spokesman for Cairns Hospital says that midwifery services will not be stopping at Mossman Hospital, they are not referring to the Midwifery Group Practice which is a far more comprehensive service than basic midwifery services. Cairns also states that Mossman Hospital supports comparatively lower births than other parts of the region.

“The statement is unsettling and unhelpful to the families of Mossman and surrounds. It is also eerily similar to other media statements made by other rural Queensland facilities before they closed their doors.

“Restoring services after they have been completely removed is extremely difficult,” said Witte.

She said that as a health consumer representative, she will do everything in her power to make sure that Midwifery Group Practice Services are guaranteed to remain at full capacity in the Mossman area.

She added that it is important for the public to stand up and make it known that they believe rural and remote families deserve the best.

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