A SEVERE lack of health professionals in Waikerie has led to birthing services being put on hold for over six weeks, meaning locals – including five pregnant women – will have to travel at least an hour for the care they need.
Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network CEO Wayne Champion said the network is currently providing assistance to five local women with planned births to arrange alternative locations.
“Our number one priority in the provision of birthing services is always the health, safety and wellbeing of both mother and baby,” he said.
“Birthing services at Waikerie Health Service require a GP obstetrician, a GP anaesthetist, as well a 24/7 roster of midwives and operating theatre staff to provide safe delivery and care in the event of an emergency.
“Due to a unplanned shortage of nursing and midwifery staff, we are providing assistance to five local women with planned births to arrange an alternative location to birth, and are working closely with MEDSTAR, SA Ambulance Service (SAAS), Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Riverland General Hospital and Loxton Hospital to ensure all women have access to safe birthing services.
“Shared care antenatal and postnatal community services will continue to be available at Waikerie Health Service during this time, and we will continue to work hard to fill the roster required to provide safe birthing services for the future.”
Last month the Murray Pioneer reported on the lack of senior doctors in Waikerie, with Dr Ken Wanguhu describing the situation as a “crisis”.
“Over the last two years, the Waikerie Medical Centre (WMC) has lost three full-time senior doctors, one part-time doctor, and one who is on long-term leave,” he said.
“We aim to see four to six patients an hour, so that equates to easily over 100 appointments lost every day.
“The doctors at the WMC also cover the Waikerie Hospital; between the three of us, we each are on call for the hospital twice a week and one weekend every two to three weeks. When we are on call for the hospital, we can’t book patients, which means we are down another 20 to 30 appointments each day.
“On top of that, we have not been able to hold onto any trainee registrars. Lately, many of them have become overwhelmed by the amount of work needed here, or they prefer being close to the city and suburbs.
“We are in a really desperate situation. The WMC has not been able to hold onto any registrars since Dr Mibus stayed, and as we keep losing senior staff, it’s really become a crisis situation.”
Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone told ABC yesterday that staffing numbers at the Waikerie Health Service had been an “ongoing issue”.
“The thing that we’re facing at the moment is numbers – skilled staff numbers at our hospitals – and Waikerie has been exposed with one person not turning up for work, which means that they cannot provide an adequate health system there at their birthing unit,” he said.
“Sadly, it has been an ongoing issue, not just in midwifery and birthing units, but Waikerie Hospital has always struggled to maintain staffing levels.
“As I think Wayne Champion said, Waikerie Hospital has been using some agency staff, local permanent staff, casual staff, and then all of a sudden one of those staff is called away (due to) unforeseen circumstances, and it really does put a hole in providing a high level of healthcare.
“There are a couple of issues that I will be raising with Health Minister Stephen Wade when he is here next week, to see if there aren’t better incentives or ways that we can attract young people into health care and provide localised workforce into the health system.
“Every Riverlander deserves to have an adequate health system at their back door.”
The temporary suspension is anticipated to end around March 2021.
Meanwhile, the State Opposition yesterday slammed the call from SA Health to remove the service from Waikerie.
“(Premier) Steven Marshall must urgently address this staffing shortage to ensure women in the Riverland aren’t forced to drive almost an hour – or possibly more – while in labour,” said Clare Scriven, Opposition spokesperson for regional development.
“To cite a staffing shortage as the reason for this closure is just not good enough. Steven Marshall must immediately intervene and place more nurses and midwives back into regional South Australia, ensuring this never happens again.”