Wyndham’s maternity bed shortage is the subject of a survey to determine the extent of a problem that last year led to mothers being turned away because facilities were booked out.
Western Metropolitan Greens MP Colleen Hartland said Wyndham welcomed 60 babies a week on average, but there were only 24 postnatal beds and eight birthing suites at the Mercy Hospital.
“There’s a critical shortage of maternity beds and the situation can only get worse with the number of young families moving to the area,” she said.
The hospital’s executive director, Linda Mellors, admitted the shortage of maternity beds was ongoing but said things had improved.
Ms Hartland said Maternity Matters, the title of a survey of women who had used or intended to use public hospital maternity beds, would assess the full extent of the issue.
She said the survey would give women the chance to say what services they wanted and to talk about the impact of being unable to book into hospitals or access their preferred choices.
“There can be substantial physical, emotional and social consequences of the childbirth experience for mothers and their families,’’ Ms Hartland said.
“Families want birth options that suit them best … a supportive and comfortable environment is very important. This delivers a positive birth experience and well-being outcomes for mother and child.”
Dr Mellors said Wyndham was Victoria’s fastest-growing municipality and demand for maternity services was “extremely strong”.
“We are continuing to increase capacity to cater for additional births each year but are not yet at the stage where we can cater for all maternity service requests,” she said.
“Last financial year, the number of births at the hospital increased by 5 per cent to 2230 and this financial year [the hospital will] cater for a 20 per cent increase in birth numbers.”
The survey ends on October 1.
» www.vicmps.greens.org.au/maternitymatters
