Calls for upgraded maternity facilities

Mothers United for Maternity Services Stanthorpe (MUMSS) this week announced its plans to begin lobbying and fundraising for upgraded maternity facilities for the Stanthorpe Hospital.
MUMSS, in collaboration with the Stanthorpe Hospital and other mothers’ groups, are focused on seeing an improvement to maternity and birthing facilities to service Stanthorpe and surrounding areas.
The Stanthorpe Hospital is only one of three public birthing facilities in Queensland that does not provide bathrooms directly accessible from the birth rooms.
The building was originally constructed in 1956 and, apart from some basic additions to the toilet and shower 10 years ago, the facilities have not been upgraded for 30 years.
MUMSS spokesperson Sarah Reeves said, “We believe that women in regional areas deserve the same opportunity for privacy, dignity and comfort as our city sisters and that the hospital deserves facilities to match the quality of the obstetric and midwifery services.”
The group applauds the recent call by the Maternity Coalition for the Newman Government to commit for all new maternity units and refurbishments to come with suitably equipped baths or pools in each birthing room.
Maternity Coalition vice-president Bec Jenkinson said, “We need a state-wide standard requiring hospitals to allow choice for women – to use a bath in labour, to birth in water if they’d like to, and above all, to respect women’s choices.”
“The findings from the Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies recent report show less than half of Queensland’s mums-to-be even get the choice to use a bath in labour – and we’re not talking about water birth – just using the known benefits of warm water immersion to ease labour.”
The MUMSS’ action plan will begin by gathering information from women regionally to build a strong case to request funding in the future.
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service acting chief executive Dr Peter Bristow said Queensland Health’s Health Planning and Infrastructure Department (HPID) inspected Stanthorpe Hospital on Monday after concerns about the hospital’s maternity services were raised.
“HPID’s initial inspection was conducted to determine the adequacy of the hospital’s existing layout and facilities,” Dr Bristow said.
“Further inspections, to be conducted over coming months, may identify areas of the hospital which require improvement,” he said.
“Any decisions on new capital works projects must be made within the context of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service budget, and any capital works funding from the State Government.
“We thank the MUMSS group for their interest and commitment to local maternity care.
“Our staff will meet with MUMSS representatives regularly to keep them informed of progress.”
Local community members and consumers of maternity services who believe we deserve better facilities and would like to show support for this project can contact MUMSS by email at mumss@granitenet.com.au, through Facebook Group MUMSS Stanthorpe or by calling 0415 444 464.