The Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff must show leadership and intervene to give women in the North West safe and timely maternity services.
The growing calls for birthing services at the North West Private Hospital to be transitioned to the Tasmanian Health Services before 2024 require immediate action, and concerns by the AMA, ANMF and our hard-working doctors, nurses and midwives cannot be ignored.
The dire situation of women in the north-west being turned away from the front door in Burnie and told to go to Launceston or Hobart to give birth is intolerable and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
AMA Tasmania President John Saul has described the situation as a medical emergency and called for immediate action, so it should be clear to the government that this is a critical issue.
But, instead of action, we have the Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson saying the Liberal government won’t be rushed.
Transitioning birthing services back to the Tasmanian Health Service by 2024 simply doesn’t cut it.
Review after review has found that the Liberal government has failed to provide and fund an integrated, women-centred approach to maternity care for new parents across the region, and issues with staff shortages and under-resourcing have gone unaddressed by this government for too long.
As the Premier and Health Minister, Jeremy Rockliff now has a responsibility to step in and resolve this issue so that all women in the region in need of birthing services have access and the confidence that those services are safe.
A Labor government would ensure maternity staff are employed in the Tasmanian Health Service, to provide job security to staff, and better access to birthing services for the women and families of the North West Region.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
