- The Crisafulli Government is delivering on a key election commitment to return birthing services to Cooktown and Biloela.
- Birthing services will commence on 14 September, meaning eligible women and families in Cooktown and Biloela will once again be able to give birth closer to home.
- Birthing services in Cooktown and Biloela were shut down by the former Labor government in 2022, with no plan to restore them.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering health services when Queenslanders need them and healing Labor’s Health Crisis.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on another key election commitment, with birthing services at both Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service and Biloela Hospital to return from Monday 14 September after being shut down by Labor 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 Crisafulli Government’s plan to deliver health services when Queenslanders need them and heal Labor’s Health Crisis.
Labor 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.
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.
Eligible women in Biloela and across the Banana region will also be able to welcome their babies closer to home, after extensive preparation and consultation with the local community by Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.
Under Labor, the condition of the birthing suite fell into such a state of disrepair that birthing services could not be safely delivered.
The Crisafulli Government fast-tracked infrastructure upgrades, in addition to new staff accommodation to help attract and retain a local health workforce.
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.”
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 4 to 6 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.
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.”
Member for Callide Bryson Head said the reinstated birthing services showed the Crisafulli Government would not turn its back on regional communities, which had been left in the lurch during Labor’s decade of decline.
“The Crisafulli Government has invested in upgrades to the birthing suite and theatre, as well as brand new staff accommodation to help attract more clinicians to our region,” Mr Head said.
“While Labor turned its back on Bilo families, just as it did on many rural communities throughout the state, the Crisafulli Government is committed to ensuring that all Queenslanders have access to world-class healthcare no matter where they live.”
Central Queensland Health Chief Executive Lisa Blackler welcomed the significant and positive step for local families and the Biloela community.
“With referrals now open, local women can have conversations with their healthcare team about their individual circumstances and whether giving birth closer to home may be an option for them,” Ms Blackler said.
“We recognise the value of having maternity care available locally and what that means for families.”
