After almost a year since the Gladstone Hospital Maternity Ward was put on bypass, the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CQHHS) has announced the reintroduction of usual full birthing services at Gladstone Hospital from today (June 13).
At Phase 3, all expectant mothers with low-risk pregnancies, being 37 weeks or more gestation, can give birth closer to home at Gladstone Hospital. Higher risk pregnancies will be referred to Rockhampton as has previously been the case.
The highest risk pregnancies have always been referred to tertiary hospitals and this will continue.
Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce welcomed the announcement and said it’s long overdue.
“After countless meetings, community forums, media events, ministerial representations, and speeches in Parliament, the Gladstone Hospital Maternity Ward bypass has finally ended,” Mr Boyce said.
“My sincere thank you goes to Jemma from Save Gladstone Maternity Ward and the Gladstone community for their continued advocacy for the restoration of services. As a community, we banded together for the services this region needs.
“I released a petition on August 18 2022, drawing attention to the decline in the availability of maternity and other medical services at the Gladstone Hospital and the negative impact this has had on the wider Gladstone region and surrounding areas.
“The petition called on the Premier the Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk and the then Health Minister the Hon Yvette D’Ath to provide adequate funding, resources, and qualified medical professionals to the Gladstone Hospital to deliver maternity and other medical services.
“This petition received mass support across the region with over 3,000 signatures from men and women in the Gladstone region and their families.”
“Almost one year on, we did it. Thank you, Gladstone community!”
To ensure patients receive the most up to date information on maternity care and birthing services across Central Queensland hospitals, the CQHHS recommends visiting their website – https://www.cq.health.qld.gov.au/.
