Statement on maternity services from the CEO and Board of Management
Castlemaine Health would like to thank the Mount Alexander Shire community for the strong public support shown for our maternity service.
We are about to embark on a review of our policies, procedures and processes for our maternity service to ensure there is a consistent and coordinated approach to birthing at Castlemaine Health.
We anticipate the review will take six weeks to complete and that birthing services will recommence on 1 July 2020. We are working closely with Safer Care Victoria and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Castlemaine Health, Safer Care Victoria and DHHS are fully committed to retaining a birthing service at Castlemaine Health. We understand the importance of retaining our local birthing service. There are no plans to close it.
Today we have met with staff and our GP obstetricians to ensure those directly involved in delivering these services are part of the review process. Our GP obstetricians and Castlemaine Health staff are in the process of contacting the nine women who may be affected by this decision. GP obstetricians and Castlemaine Health will be supporting their transition to an alternative birthing service.
Pregnancy and birthing are some of the most profound and important life experiences. We are very much aware of the difficulties this decision creates for the women planning to give birth at Castlemaine Health. We would like to offer our unreserved apologies for the unwelcome disruption. We can assure you that we are doing our utmost to return services to normal as quickly as possible.
We’d like to thank those who have taken the time to write to Castlemaine Health to show your support. We will be responding to everyone individually.
While we will not be able to comment on the contents of the review, we will keep the community informed of our progress as we work towards a return to normal services.
