Liberals respond to maternity ward closure

GEELONG Liberal MPs have taken aim at Epworth Hospital for its decision to close its Waurn Pond maternity ward and have repeated calls for intervention from Labor’s federal and state governments.

Epworth confirmed this morning it would end the service on March 31, meaning about 100 women due to give birth at the facility after the shutdown must make new arrangements.

The decision came despite significant opposition from Geelong families, GPs and politicians who campaigned for the private service to rethink the decision it first flagged in November.

Geelong federal Senator Sarah Henderson hit out at what she called a “heartless” decision today.

“Epworth HealthCare’s decision to close its Geelong maternity unit is devastating, and a real betrayal of our community.”

“Regrettably, Epworth has not been transparent with our community. Intent on cost cutting, Epworth has not conducted a genuine recruitment process or provided appropriate incentives to midwives and paediatricians to resolve its workforce shortages.

“Epworth’s decision, which leaves many women in limbo midway through their pregnancy, is heartless. It didn’t even have the decency to keep its maternity unit open long enough so that all existing patients could give birth.

Senator Henderson said she had made two complaints to the consumer watchdog about Epworth’s conduct regarding its consultation and alleged “misrepresentation” about its future.

State Parliament MP Richard Riordan said he was “devastated” at today’s news, and that the Geelong-Surf Coast region deserved improved health services.

“The Geelong region is the fastest growing region in in Australia and we’re seeing a reduction in maternity services.

“This would be not acceptable anywhere else in Australia, it certainly wouldn’t be allowed to happen in Melbourne.

“It’s not good enough.”

At a Melbourne press conference today, Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier said the closure would put the spotlight on the state government’s promised delivery of a women’s and children’s hospital at Geelong’s University Hospital.

“This will force hundreds of expectant mothers and families across the Geelong region to find new maternity services over coming months, at the very time they should be receiving support and care during what is one of the most important and rewarding periods of their lives.”

“Now, the onus is on the Andrews Labor Government to reveal when the proposed Geelong Women’s and Children’s Hospital will be completed, and ensure it has adequate birthing suites to service a growing population.”

Labor South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman, whose electorate covers Waurn Ponds, said last month that the future of the private ward was “a decision of the Epworth board”.

Geelong’s public health service Barwon Health and separate private operator St John of God have previously indicated they have capacity to accommodate Geelong mothers who had planned to give birth at Epworth.

EpworthHealthCare group interim chief executive Cameron Fuller said today that workforce shortages had caused the ward’s closure, indicating the maternity service had just over half the required workforce to be adequately staffed.