Werribee Mercy Hospital is on track to deliver a record number of babies this financial year.
The hospital is expected to deliver about 3850 babies in the year to June 30, 2016, with about 74 being born on average each week. That’s up from 3144 bubs in 2014-15 and 2739 births in 2013-14.
The rise is in line with a three-year commitment made by Mercy Health with the Department of Health and Human Services to increase the hospital’s birth capacity by 20 per cent a year.
This is the third year of that commitment.
Figures from Mercy Health show the hospital has welcomed more than 38,683 babies into the world in the 21 years to December 31, 2015, including 399 sets of twins. The hospital has added obstetrics and gynaecology consultants as well as extra junior medical staff, midwives and support staff to cope with rising demand.
Werribee Mercy maternity services director Jacqueline Van Dam said it had been exciting to watch the hospital’s maternity service grow in the seven years she’s worked there.
“We are proud to offer women in and around Wyndham a quality maternity service that is both flexible and family-centred,” Dr Van Dam said.
