Whyalla Birthing Services

Ms PRATT (Frome) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister please update the house on the review into the suspension of birthing services in Whyalla?

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:58): I thank the member for Frome for her question. It is an important question because we are concerned about the situation that we are in in terms of Whyalla and the suspension of birthing services that have had to happen there due to a lack of midwives being available in that service.

We are recruiting as much as we can in terms of workforce for the midwifery service there, but I think, particularly with a service as significant as the Whyalla service, it's appropriate that that be reviewed. We have undertaken an independent review. That report, as I understand, is still being finalised by the independent reviewer from Western Australia. She has spent time up in Whyalla and has met with current and former staff in that service to undertake a full review in terms of what we need to do to get that service back up and running as soon as possible.

We previously went through this process in relation to the Kangaroo Island birthing services that had to be just suspended. I was at the Rural Doctors Association conference only on the weekend where it was commented on what a success that that was in relation to getting those services back up and running, which is one of the few times around the country when there had been such a long suspension and then services had been restored.

We hope the same thing will happen in relation to Whyalla. It's going to be a significant amount of work to do, but I think when we have this report, which will be released, that report will guide us in terms of the steps that need to happen to get those services back for that very important community in Whyalla. I want to thank the member for Giles for his very strong advocacy in relation to this issue because this is such an important issue for that region.