By JONATHON HOWARD
SUNSHINE Coast Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Kevin Hegarty has responded to concerns around the Noosa Hospital, saying public maternity services have been given careful consideration.
He says under the service agreement that the SCHHS has with Ramsay Health Care, the SCHHS as the client has the ability to purchase the volume and range of services that helps best meet the health care need of the community.
“The annual decision as to what range and volume of services will be purchased from Noosa Hospital is made with consideration of the health needs of the Sunshine Coast and Gympie communities and the changing availability of services,” he said.
“Decisions on how the SCHHS allocates its budget are driven by the need to ensure the greatest benefit to patients by providing the most services while ensuring they are safe and of the highest standard. Each year we treat more patients than the previous year; our allocation of resources is focused on being able to continue to do that.”
Mr Hegarty said planning for public maternity services had been given careful consideration to not only meet future demand, but also ensure safe and high quality maternity services were provided.
“Separating birthing services across sites (as close as 35 minutes) complicates recruitment and retention of specialist staff,” he said.
“These staff include obstetricians but also specialities supporting maternity services such as anaesthetics, paediatrics and neonatology.
“Maternity services in the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service area are provided by both public and private service providers.
“Private facilities care for approximately 32 per cent of deliveries for Sunshine Coast/Gympie residents with public facilities delivering 68 per cent.
“Of this 68 per cent, about 12 per cent of births occur in Brisbane public facilities mostly at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH).
“The SCHHS provides public inpatient maternity services at Nambour General Hospital and Gympie Hospital, with outpatients and postnatal follow up at multiple community sites at Caloundra Health Service, Maroochydore, Coolum and Noosa.”
On an average day Noosa Hospital will admit 70 patients, treat 40 patients in emergency and undertake 30 operations.
