Monday, 19 September 2022
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has requested the urgent intervention of Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor to restore obstetrics cover at Armidale Hospital and across the region to ensure expecting mothers can safely give birth in their local communities.
Mr Marshall said he was “alarmed and disturbed” to learn this morning that Armidale and the region has had no obstetrics cover since Friday, forcing expecting mothers to trek all the way to Tamworth to give birth.
“This situation is completely unacceptable and it’s my understanding Hunter New England Health still hasn’t fixed it, meaning it’ll be four whole days without any hospital obstetrics services across our region,” Mr Marshall said.
“Not having the coverage is bad enough, but given there was no warning by the health district and no advice provided to the community that this was going to be the case, it’s even more disgraceful.
“We all know our health workforce is stretched to its limits at the moment, but this situation has to be a new low and something that should have been foreseen and measures put in place to ensure at least one location in the region has obstetrics cover.
“The birth of a child is one of the most exciting and proud moments for parents and it’s a reasonable expectation for mums to be able to give birth at their local hospital as their mothers have before them.
“It’s extraordinary to think that with around 600 babies born, on average, each year across the Northern Tablelands, that we could see a time where there is no obstetrics cover.
“Today I brought this unacceptable situation to the attention of Minister Taylor and on behalf of the community have sought her urgent intervention to give expecting mums in our region the comfort and assurance they can bring their newborns into this world safely and close to home.
“I’ll be sure to keep the community informed as to any updates.”