Cairns Hospital’s purpose-built maternity assessment centre is now open with six new assessment and treatment beds in the women’s health unit.
The $1 million fast-tracked upgrade of the maternity unit is in addition to the Queensland Government’s $10 million investment in boosting maternity services at the hospital.
This funding allows the Health Service to employ 23 additional staff, including doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health, support services officers and an administration officer.
Leena Singh, the Chief Executive of the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, said pregnant women and staff had welcomed the new purpose-built rooms for maternity assessments and treatments.
‘These improvements will expand our capacity and be available for all women birthing in the public system,’ she said.
‘With the cessation of Ramsay Healthcare Cairns Private Hospital birthing service, our Health Service will now provide close to 97% of all births for the Far North region.
‘Most pregnant women have already opted to birth at Cairns Hospital or one of our regional hospitals following the closure of maternity services at Cairns Private Hospital on 31 October.’
Cairns Hospital Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Samantha Scherman, said services in the existing Day Pregnancy Unit will transition across to the Maternity Assessment Centre this week.
‘The new Maternity Assessment Centre is a significant improvement with new model of care offering extended hours 7am – 9.30pm seven days a week with dedicated staffing of midwives and obstetricians.
‘The centre is a dedicated space where women with known complex pregnancies or non-routine pregnancy related concerns or issues can present for assessment and care,’ said Dr Scherman.
‘Currently, we use existing birth suites for some of these assessments, so the new Maternity Assessment Centre will provide a more appropriate and discreet setting, as well as freeing up additional birth suites to meet demand.
‘The upgrade provides an improved experience for all expectant mums and their families.
‘Women with complex pregnancies who need regular monitoring and assessments will enjoy continuity of midwifery care with permanently employed senior midwives staffing the Maternity Assessment Centre.
‘The safety of mothers and babies is our highest priority.’
Since the closure of Ramsay Health Care’s maternity unit at Cairns Private Hospital on 1 November, Cairns Hospital will continue to provide and expand a range of successful birthing models.
This includes midwife-led care in Midwifery Group Practice (MGP), combined care with midwives and obstetricians, and highly specialised combined medical and obstetric care to meet the individual health needs of women and their babies.
The obstetric team at Cairns Hospital comprises 13 staff specialists and 12 junior doctors.
Cairns Hospital provides care for the births of approximately 2337 babies to Far North women and families each year.
Cairns Hospital is also the major referral hospital for women from the Tablelands and Cassowary Coast who develop complications during pregnancy and for women from the Cape York and Torres Strait regions.
Women who access the Cairns Hospital maternity services have access to antenatal classes, lactation support, specialist medical clinics and women’s health physiotherapy through a referral process. In our antenatal clinic areas, we run midwife clinics, medical clinics and specialist clinics such as diabetes services.
Our nine birth suites are fully equipped to manage any labour and birth situations and three of our rooms have birthing pools. Our 25-bed maternity unit is made up of 1 and 2 bedded rooms with ensuite.