Delay maternity closure date, petitioners urge

A COMMUNITY campaign to keep Epworth Geelong’s maternity service open is not giving up and is urging the private hospital to push back the looming closure date.

In late November, Epworth HealthCare proposed it would begin consultation on the closure and flagged the maternity service was anticipated to end on March 1.

Community reaction was swift, with the “Save Epworth Geelong Maternity Unit” petition started by Leopold GP Elise Davey pulling in more than 7,700 signatures within 24 hours – the petition is now at more than 13,500 signatures.

Dr Davey met with supporters of the petition, including mothers who had their babies at Epworth Geelong and two mothers due to deliver at the hospital after March 1, on Wednesday this week to discuss the issue with Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson and Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan.

Dr Davey believed the workplace shortages cited as the rationale for the closure had been addressed.

“The primary shortage was that of midwives, and to the amazing credit of the midwives, who did not want this unit closed, they have worked out a way to show they can sustain maintaining the unit, even without putting on extra people, which I think they’re still hoping to do,” Dr Davey said.

“From a doctor’s point of view, the unit is probably overstaffed.

“The one thing is the paediatric group, but there are some solutions there available to them [Epworth] if they work hard enough. There’s incentive programs available to the doctors already servicing the Geelong region, or you can try to start afresh.

“To the best of my knowledge, Epworth have not put any of those motions in place. In this consultative phase, it’s hard to see where the consultation is going on.”

She said there had been a groundswell of support from the community, doctors and midwives to keep the maternity service open, but time was running out.

“When I first started the petition, everyone told me the unit would be closed before Christmas.

“We need the exec [executive] to come to the table and show us the efforts that they are making.

“It’s not good enough for the women here today who are currently pregnant and not sure which hospital they’re meant to drive up to when they go into labour.”

Dr Davey said the March 1 date should be pushed back at least six months.

“Why can’t they at least give a stay of execution, so to speak?”

Senator Henderson believed Epworth HealthCare was “putting profit before anything else”, as obstetrics was not as profitable per bed as plastics or orthapaedics.

“The former Coalition government worked extremely hard with Epworth HealthCare to build a state-of-the-art hospital in Waurn Ponds including providing substantial financial support for vital MRI services,” she said.

“Geelong Maternity Group, which is based at Epworth Geelong, comprises highly credentialed obstetric specialists and has a first-class reputation.

“I am also concerned that this closure, driven by management in Melbourne, is all about putting profit before the health needs of our community and that is unforgiveable.

“It is disgraceful and cruel that Epworth Geelong would close its maternity ward midway through the pregnancy of so many expectant mothers.”

Senator Henderson and Mr Riordan have requested an urgent meeting with the board and management of Epworth HealthCare.