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Bendigo hospital has seen a 20 percent increase in births while St John of God considers closing its maternity ward . Image : NCA
“ He cited issues such as a drop in demand , staffing shortages , significant cost increases , and a trend in consumers cutting back private healthcare services
‘ Just a review ’
Fight to save Bendigo private hospital ’ s maternity ward
By Arshmah Jamal
Uncertainty over the future of the maternity ward at Bendigo private St John of God Hospital has led midwives and parents to fight to save it from closing .
Chief of the hospital Michael Hogan said that closure may be an option due to “ ongoing concerns about the long-term sustainability ”, citing issues such as a drop in demand , staffing shortages , significant cost increases , and a trend in consumers cutting back private healthcare services .
“[ The maternity wards ] are a higher end of cost and service delivery but has a lower activity ,” Mr Hogan told the ABC .
“ Private health insurance has plateaued – more people don ’ t use their private health insurance all the time because they may as well use the public health system rather than have the extra out-of-pocket costs .”
Public hospital Bendigo Health has had a 20 per cent increase in births in the past three years , with almost 2,000 babies delivered per year .
St John of God Hospital ’ s maternity ward averaged about five babies per week .
Mr Hogan went on to reassure the staff that no jobs were on the line .
“ This is just a review ... we ’ re not closing anything ,” he said .
“ We have until the end of November to decide if it ’ s closing .”
The announcement came after Geelong Epworth closed its maternity wards in March this year , citing “ midwife shortages ”.
President of the Rural Doctors Association of Victoria Dr Daniel Wilson said the closures were “ really disappointing ” and impacted both private and public patients .
“ The two are so intimately connected that when one falls down , the other is impacted ,” Dr Wilson said .
“ The public sector is already blown out with massive waiting for outpatient services and can ’ t particularly handle additional significant increases .”
The announcement has also caused concern among midwives and parents in Bendigo , with one mother campaigning hard to stop the closure .
Emma Jensen had both of her children at St John of God Hospital but was taken to Bendigo Health ED after haemorrhaging both times .
Ms Jensen said that while she was grateful for the care at Bendigo Health , her experience was drastically different to the private hospital as two days after her surgery , she left without any debriefs or referrals .
“ They did their best , but when you go into shock , you ’ re unable to use your voice , and when you lose your voice , you lose your choice ,” she said .
Ms Jensen said the continuity of care she had received at St John of God made a huge difference .
“ I remember being in the wheelchair and not wanting to move , not wanting to get up ,” she said .
“ The head of maternity said , ‘ we ’ ve got you ’.”
“ I was treated as a person , not a patient – that ’ s the difference .”
Head of maternity at St John of God Hospital Nicole Harris said midwives were also working hard behind the scenes to save the private hospital .
Ms Harris said she felt optimistic the service could be saved .
“ Since the announcement [ of the review ] was made , we have worked so hard with the executive team , with local doctors , with Bendigo Health to come up with some sustainable solutions ,” she told the ABC .
“ It ’ s not bad to modernise and change the service you provide to make it more suitable for the community .”
“ If everything comes to fruition , it will be an even better service than we provide right now .”
St John of God is the only private hospital in the area , covering areas up to Mildura , Deniliquin , and Shepparton .
If closed , the nearest one would be in Melbourne – almost 200km away . ■
6 | nursingreview . com . au