By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA residents are crying out for improvements to the Noosa Hospital, including the development of a new birthing centre.
To find out more, Noosa Today put the hard questions to Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kevin Hegarty, who provided the following responses.
Could you please confirm rumours the Nambour Hospital birthing centre will close as of 2016, sending all birthing services to the new Kawana Hospital?
When the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital (SCPUH) opens in late 2016, there will be an expanded birthing service based at that facility. It will be able to provide safe birthing services to even more complex births than what are currently catered for within the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS). That is, expectant mothers with complex pregnancies who currently need to give birth at Brisbane tertiary facilities will no longer have to travel to Brisbane. Choice for expectant mothers will also be expanded through the development of a midwifery led birthing model at SCPUH.
Are there any plans to improve the Noosa Hospital to include a birthing centre, or birthing support services?
Importantly, planning for a midwifery-led birthing service at Nambour Hospital, post the opening of the SCPUH is currently occurring.
Noosa Hospital is owned and operated by Ramsay Health Care. The SCHHS funds emergency department services, in-patient beds and other services at Noosa Hospital to meet the needs of public patients. The examination of options to develop birthing services at Noosa Hospital would be for the consideration of Ramsay Health Care. Comprehensive birthing services require a range of expert staff. The recruitment and retention of staff, as well as the maintenance of their skills is best served in a consolidated model rather than fragmented service sites.
Could you please explain why the Noosa Hospital currently offers a greater number of private beds, when the hospital had first opened with a majority of public available beds?
The contract between Queensland Health and the operators of Noosa Hospital was signed in 1999. It is a contract for a 20-year period which contains provisions to reflect the ever changing health needs of the community served by the SCHHS. The demand and capacity of facilities operated by the SCHHS, together with other private sector partnerships have changed significantly since 1999. Noosa Hospital is and will remain an important part of the overall network of services, either provided directly or funded by the SCHHS. The SCHHS has consistently funded more than $20m of services for public patients at Noosa Hospital every year.
Could I also please get an idea of the number of births currently taking place at Nambour Hospital?
Birthing numbers within facilities operated by the SCHHS (this includes Nambour and Gympie) are consistently under 3000 per year and this is not forecast to change. The actual birthing rate for 2012/13 was approximately 2700. As part of the Government’s 2012 election commitment, a Mums and Bubs initiative has been implemented. This service is provided by the SCHHS and ensures that new mothers are supported through visits to their home by midwives. This service is provided in the Noosa area. Approximately 68 such visits occurred in Noosa in July 2014. There is on average at least two support visits to the one mother.
