Reports that the Hobart Private Hospital will close its maternity services from 20 August are deeply concerning. The Rockliff Government must reassure the community by outlining their plans to ensure that mothers and their babies can receive the care they need at the remaining maternity services.
The Hobart Private Hospital provided vital maternity care, delivering 600 babies a year. Expectant mothers in the community who had planned to deliver at the hospital will rightly be concerned about accessing the care they and their babies need.
It’s deeply disappointing that the Hobart Private Hospital has decided to close its maternity services due to ongoing workforce challenges. It’s yet more evidence that the Rockliff Government has not been doing enough to attract midwives to Tasmanian hospitals.
It’s very worrying that the public maternity services may be completely overwhelmed by the increase in patients. This has serious implications for mothers and their babies, and the care they receive when they need it most.
The public Hobart Hospital’s maternity services are already stretched. While midwives are doing their best to care for patients, they’ve reported that the staffing levels are already unsafe for mothers and babies, who need more frequent and tailored care.
This is yet more evidence that the Rockliff Government cannot continue to rely on private entities to provide the vital healthcare that Tasmanians need. The Liberal Government must reassure Tasmanians as to how the remaining maternity services will be supported to cope with this increase in demand, providing the vital care needed to Tasmanians.
