Hospital Beds

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.E. HANSON: Last night, the opposition was contacted by a mother who was concerned that her daughter was being forced to leave hospital after a caesarean delivery. She said:

Now I am angry. Daisy was born via c section YESTERDAY & Lyell McEwin Hospital are saying Mum has to go home without Daisy because they have no beds! 24 hours after a caesarean! Mum is bleeding, on heavy pain killers. Supposed to be a happy time but they are both in tears.

Dr David Pope of the Lyell McEwin Hospital and Salaried Medical Officers Association said today:

Who would separate a mother and her newborn baby like that—it's just inhumane.

My question to the minister is: after repeatedly telling this council and the public about additional beds and how we are ready for increased demand due to COVID-19, how is it possible that a bleeding new mother is kicked out of hospital due to bed shortages?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:16): I am advised that, under the practices of the Lyell McEwin Hospital, patients can be safely discharged 24 hours after an elective caesarean section. The initial advice I have received is that the patient in question was discharged well after 24 hours.

It's not uncommon, however, for a new baby to require additional observation and care, to remain in hospital after their parent has been assessed as fit and safe to be discharged. Family accommodation can be made available in the Lyell McEwin Hospital's Women's Health Unit for mothers of unwell babies in the special care nursery. However, this space is limited and depends on demand. I am advised that last night the family accommodation was not available for the lady in question.

Additional recliners are also available as an alternative for parents in the special care nursery. I regret that she was not able to stay, but we continue to strive to provide the best possible care. The advice that is given to me—I think the honourable member may be under a misapprehension—suggests that the unavailable accommodation was family accommodation, not an inpatient bed.