Birthing services are back in Cooktown
FNQ Health
Birthing services at both Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service and Biloela Hospital have returned as of Monday, September 14 after being shut down in 2022.
The return of planned birthing services means that more local mums will be able to have their babies closer to home, as part of the State Government’s plan to deliver health services when Queenslanders need them.
The former Labor Government oversaw a crisis in maternity services, with Gladstone birthing bypassed through 2022 and 2023. In recent decades, dozens of rural birthing services were closed by Labor, including Cooktown (981 days) and Biloela (793 days), with no plan for their return.
Member for Cook David Kempton said the former Labor Government had disregarded the needs of Cooktown and Far North Queensland families when they closed the local birthing services.
“Families who previously would have needed to travel to Cairns from four to six weeks prior to the birth of their babies may no longer need to do so thanks to these vital services being restored,” Mr Kempton said.
Birthing is returning to Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service following sustained workforce development and recruitment by Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.
This includes the hiring of additional obstetric-trained Rural Generalists to complement the Cooktown medical team, with the health service having already recruited the midwives and anaesthetic-trained Rural Generalists required to support the service.
Premier David Crisafulli said the return of local birthing was a significant milestone for both communities and was part of delivering health services when Queenslanders need them.
“We made a commitment to regional Queenslanders we’d restore these services and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“Families have waited a long time for the return of these birthing services after they were cut by the former Government.
“I was born in a small country hospital so delivering on this commitment is deeply personal for me.”
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said significant work to strengthen local workforces, clinical capability and infrastructure was key to ensuring birthing could return in a safe and sustainable way.
“We’ve made targeted investments to recruit more clinicians and improve local facilities to ensure the safe return of birthing services to these communities,” Minister Nicholls said.
“This is about delivering on our commitment to regional Queensland and making sure women and families can access quality maternity and birthing care closer to home and their support systems.
“The facts now speak for themselves – Labor Governments close maternity services, while LNP Governments open them.”
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Rex O’Rourke said the return of birthing was an important milestone for the region.
“We expect approximately 40 births each year from Cooktown and surrounding communities,” Mr O’Rourke said.
“Of course, women may still choose to birth elsewhere, however, for the first time in many years they once again have the choice to birth locally.”