Loss of birthing services at Mareeba District Hospital

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
S Eales (Secretary)
Mareeba Mothers and Midwives Alliance
MAREEBA QLD 4880
Total Signatures - 533
Sponsoring Member: Rosa Lee Long MP
Posting Date: 8/6/2005
Tabled Date: 8/6/2005
Responded By: Referred Minister
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

The petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the
attention of the House recent loss of birthing services at Mareeba
District Hospital, which makes 37 services in the public sector that have
closed since 1995.

Your petitioners therefore request the House to improve maternity care
services by implementing the recommendations of the Report of the Review
of Maternity Services in Queensland, re-birthing.

In the first instance there should be an immediate reversal of the
decision to cease birthing services at Mareeba Hospital. The Health
Minister should approve the Mareeba Maternity Unit as a demonstration
site of the Bub-hub structure with midwifery teams operating in a best
practice, primary care model. This service should start immediately and
allow the 70-80% of women with “low-risk” pregnancies to continue
birthing at Mareeba Hospital.

The Minister should provide whatever financial and other support is
required to hasten the recruitment and training of a suitable medical
officer to fill the vacant Medical Superintendent position at Mareeba
Hospital. This person must have qualifications and skills that would
allow most of those women with risk factors to birth in Mareeba.