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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-06-27 Daily Xml
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Regional Birthing Services

Ms PRATT (Frome) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister update the house on the status of regional birthing services? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Ms PRATT: As of yesterday, birthing services in the country town of Whyalla were withdrawn indefinitely. On radio last night, the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch), Elizabeth Dabars, raised concerns about other country communities, like Waikerie, Victor Harbor and Gawler.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:37): Firstly, in relation to Whyalla, I am clearly concerned and disappointed in relation to the fact that there had to be a temporary suspension of birthing services at that hospital. I know both the Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network and the Department for Health and Wellbeing are working as fast as we can and also in conjunction with other local health networks to try to re-establish those services, which all come down to the midwifery workforce at that site.

I was also asked about the Waikerie birthing service. My advice was that that birthing service at Waikerie was closed under the Marshall Liberal government, so I am not sure what the question was in relation to that particular service.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Clearly, though, right across regional Australia, birthing services are one of those services that needs constant vigilance in terms of being able to maintain those services, as I am sure the previous government found in relation to Waikerie. It's not just obviously the midwives that are needed; it's the medical cover, in terms of obstetrics and also in terms of anaesthetics cover, that needs to be there, so there are a range of different services that need to be provided.

In terms of some good news on the birthing front, I can advise that we have now re-established birthing services on Kangaroo Island. These services faced a prolonged shutdown due to workforce shortages, and there was a lot of work that happened between the government and the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network, working the Women's and Children's Health Network as well, to re-establish those services on Kangaroo Island. The Premier and I were able to visit last week and meet a number of the parents who have been able to give birth on the island.

Clearly, that's a service where it is not one hour down the road to the next service when you are isolated on an island, and therefore it was a critical need in terms of the isolation of mothers on Kangaroo Island to re-establish those services. I want to thank all of the team who have done that, who have put that work together. Obviously, there is a lot of work now that needs to happen in relation to Whyalla services and also work in terms of maintaining those other services right across regional South Australia.

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