Local mums ‘scared’ to birth at Margaret River Hospital

Too many women are missing out on the chance to deliver their babies close to home because the Margaret River Hospital lacks intervention capabilities. Local doctors have voiced concerns a permanent downgrade to the site’s surgical capacity means caesarean procedures, needed in emergencies, cannot be performed. Although women mostly wanted to deliver their babies with minimal intervention, the lack of back-up options was behind a decline in births at Margaret River, doctors told the Times. The number of babies delivered at Margaret River Hospital has slowed in recent years, with 31 born during the 2020-21 financial year and 26 before that, down from 50 births in 2018-19. WA Country Health Service South West regional director Kerry Winsor said caesareans had not been a local option “for many years” and rollout of the new Midwifery Group Practice model of care would “expand the current service and … provide continuity of care for our maternity patients”. “I have spoken to the local team and we know that more women would like to birth locally,” she said. “WACHS offers a range of maternity services to provide local families a range of birthing options, close to home that meet their clinical needs and personal preferences.” Telehealth services were also available for antenatal classes and specialist obstetric consultations, Ms Winsor said. The Midwifery Group Practice model ensured continuity of care for pregnant women, including the same midwife or teams of midwives. But a local mum who recently delivered at Bunbury Hospital said that program still relied on women travelling if they feared intervention might be needed. The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was upset by brisk treatment at Bunbury, including being told to vacate her room the day after her child was born. Fortunately, she said a transfer to Busselton Health Campus restored her faith in the health system because she received excellent care and her husband and older daughter were welcomed. GPs who asked not to be identified said they had canvassed WACHS about introducing C-section capacity to Margaret River without success. Doctors believed Busselton and Bunbury hospitals were already struggling under caseloads. Doctors frequently met with patients for whom travel and time away from home were further obstacles, but were concerned about a lack of intervention options. “They are scared to deliver here,” one doctor said. It was also disappointing for local families because Margaret River had enough midwives and doctors available. The news follows Opposition Leader Mia Davies and Vasse MLA Libby Mettam calling for funding in this year’s State Budget to enact a long-awaited masterplan to expand the hospital and extend its surgical capacity.