- Additional $5 million for Cairns maternity services
- Existing maternity ward to be expanded
- 23 additional staff to be employed
A further $5 million has been committed by the Palaszczuk Government for the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service to expand its maternity services.
The additional funding comes off the back of $5 million announced last month, to guarantee birthing services in Far North Queensland will not be disrupted by the closure of maternity services at Ramsay Health Care’s Cairns Private Hospital.
Additionally, $1 million in capital investment will enable the expansion of the existing birth suites and maternity assessment area to provide additional space and capacity for around the clock assessment and management of birthing women.
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service has been working closely with Ramsay Health Care to safely transition maternity services for women who were planning to birth at the private hospital.
The new funding will allow the Health Service to employ 23 additional staff, including doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health, support services officers and an administration officer.
Quotes attributable to Health Minister Shannon Fentiman:
“We are building on our initial commitment of $5 million to ensure we safeguard maternity services in the Far North.
“We know that our Cairns Hospital maternity ward is one of the best in the state, and this will enable staff to continue delivering the incredible and safe care for mothers and their babies.
“It is important mothers have a choice and this additional funding will assist in making that possible.
“We have already started recruiting the additional staff we need and will continue attracting more staff to grow our workforce.”
Quotes attributable to Chief Executive, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Leena Singh:
“Since Ramsay Health Care announced last month that it was closing its maternity services at its Cairns Private Hospital, we have been working hard to ensure a smooth transition for birthing women to use our public hospitals.
“We have a high level of expertise in birthing as well as before and after birth care and support. Additionally, Cairns Hospital has a Special Care Nursery for sick and premature babies.
“This funding will provide additional staff across a woman’s birthing journey including in antenatal clinics, birth suites, the maternity ward and special care nursery.
“We want all of our expectant mums to have positive and safe birthing experiences.
“We live in a beautiful, unique part of the world and want more people to be able to proudly say that they were born here and delivered by the safe hands at our public hospitals.
