The matter of a maternity ward as part of a new hospital for Yass is not if, but when – and how, says Goulburn MP Pru Goward.
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Backed by a 2000-signature community petition in support of its development, Yass Valley mothers Lindsay Hollingsworth, Bec Duncan and councillor Jasmin Jones (acting as a private citizen) will meet with Ms Goward this month to ask for a state commitment.
I’ve been saying for three years that we’re going to have to reopen a proper hospital here - the community is growing fast - but the issue is when.
- Goulburn MP Pru Goward
Ms Goward has not made any promises, but did say she would ask the government to commit to a clinical health services review of Yass District Hospital, including maternity, as the first step.
“I’ve been saying for three years that we’re going to have to reopen a proper hospital here – the community is growing fast – but the issue is when,” Ms Goward said while visiting Yass on September 6.
In town to turn the first sod on the new site for the Yass Ambulance Station, Ms Goward said that to bring full maternity services to Yass was not as simple as opening a ward at the hospital.
“You can’t just open a maternity ward,” she said. “You’ve got to have full-time anaesthetists and obstetricians so that you can run a 24/7 service, because that’s what it would have to be.
“And you’re not just talking about maternity, you’re talking about all surgery, because you’ve got to have a couple of general surgeons; so, you’re suddenly talking about a very big deal.”
Southern NSW Local Health District, the government body responsible for health services, has committed to the clinical health services review at Yass Hospital, but not to a maternity ward.
Presently, mothers are unable to plan their delivery in Yass Valley, which has meant some women, such as Ms Hollingsworth and Cr Jones, and very nearly Ms Duncan, have given birth on the side of the Barton Highway en-route to out-of-area maternity wards.
Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD), the government body responsible for health services, has committed to a clinical health services review at Yass Hospital, but not to a maternity ward.
Not only do you need the skilled nursing staff, you also need the doctors that come and provide the support, then access to theatres for caesarean, and it just keeps on rolling.
- SNSWLHD general manager, northern cluster (hospitals), Denis Thomas
The SNSWLHD general manager of the hospitals’ northern cluster Denis Thomas said he understood “the challenges, particularly for people at the late stage of pregnancy, and it must be traumatising.
“But trying to maintain the skill set you need to provide a fully fledged maternity operation in a small town is the reason why they’ve all been shut down. It’s not safe to try and do that,” he said.
“Not only do you need the skilled nursing staff, you also need the doctors that come and provide the support, then access to theatres for caesarean, and it just keeps on rolling.”
When asked about the clinical services review, Mr Thomas said the SNSWLHD was “certainly linked in with [Yass Valley] council to hear about the population growth predictions and we need to make sure we’re providing an appropriate level of health service for that.
“That’s what we’re doing with the $8 million redevelopment at Yass District Hospital, which will expand the capacity in terms of in-patient facilities and also emergency or acute care,” he said.
The redevelopment, to begin at the end of this year, will include 24-hour access to emergency care, an additional treatment bay, dedicated ambulance entry point, an increase from 10 to 12 inpatient beds, an improved community and allied health facilities and ongoing access to x-ray services.
