Sunshine Hospital says it’s ready to lend a hand to neighbouring hospitals buckling under the strain of high demand on their maternity services.
Werribee Mercy Hospital is booked out for December, with pregnant women being directed elsewhere.
Sunshine Hospital operations executive director Natasha Toohey said her hospital was ready to offer support.
“Maternity services across Melbourne work together to ensure the needs of patients are paramount,” she said. “Sunshine has strong demand for its services, but we are happy to support other maternity services where we can.”
Werribee GP Dr Joe Garra slammed the state government last month for failing to boost funding for maternity services at Werribee Mercy Hospital as part of the hospital’s
$85 million expansion.
“Maternity is not an elective procedure. We don’t want women having … to drive in labour to Sunshine,” Dr Garra said. “There will be babies popping out on the Ring Road. There has to be a clear plan about what this hospital will provide now – and in five and 10 years’
time.”
Ms Toohey said long-term plans for maternity services at Sunshine Hospital were coming together.
“The new Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital is at an advanced stage of construction,” she said. “When it opens in the first half of 2019, it will assist Sunshine Hospital, which is experiencing an ongoing high demand for maternity services.
“This hospital will also allow more women and families in Melbourne’s west access to in- and out-patient services closer to home and provide an important boost to facilities for pregnant women and their families.”
Sunshine Hospital was one of the big winners out of this year’s state budget, allocated to receive $29.6 million for a new emergency department it says will significantly boost its capacity to provide services.
