Kapunda latest town to lose birthing services

This year alone, communities in Kangaroo Island, Whyalla and Kapunda, had services ceased and despite some being reinstated, communities are concerned it could become permanent.

An SA Health spokesperson cited staff leave as the cause for the disruption to Kapunda services.

"There are critical, national midwifery and birthing workforce shortages which can put pressure on rural and remote communities," the spokesperson said.

"Every measure is being taken to attract more workers, including generous relocation incentive packages and flexible working models."

SA Health advised, despite Kapunda losing its services until approximately mid January, community midwifery services will continue to support regional women with ante-natal and post-natal care.

"No SA Health birthing services have closed permanently in the past 12 months. In instances where birthing service have had to close temporarily, hospitals work with all affected families to make suitable alternative arrangements," the spokesperson said.

But, as ceased services at Whyalla, Waikerie and Kapunda are yet to be reinstated, Rural Doctors Association SA president Bill Geyer was concerned these regions could face a permanent loss of obstetrics support.

"If you put a hold on obstetrics services while you recruit more midwives, what midwife is going to want to work in a service which has been closed? It actually becomes a dog chasing its tail and never gets any better," Dr Geyer said.

"Once these services close, it is very difficult to get it up and running again. The exception was KI because of the logistics but elsewhere in SA, when services had been closed, quote on quote, temporarily, never to reopen."

Dr Geyer's biggest concern was Kapunda's services would not be reinstated in the new year.

"Waikerie were put on a temporary bypass two years ago and the service has not been reinstated," he said.

"There is very limited scope for direct entry midwives who do not have a nursing certificate in a small country hospital. The proportion of dual certificate, registered nurses and midwives, is low and it is an SA country hospital requirement to have a theatre team on call 24/7 if you provide an obstetrics service."

Expecting mothers from the Barossa Valley, Eudunda and Robertstown, accessed services at Kapunda and will be expected to attend Gawler Health Service or Lyell McEwin Hospital.

"The Lyell McEwen is bursting at the seams in their obstetrics services," Dr Geyer said.

But, Dr Geyer was optimistic the appointment of a new director at Gawler Health Services could provide increased obstetrics capacity in the region.

"The bypasses are putting extra strain on other services," he said.

In a bid to attract more health workers to the regions to fill critical workforce shortages, the state government has offered up to $15,000 in financial reimbursements to cover relocation costs to regional and remote SA.

But, so far, the shortage has not been improved with incentives and across regional SA, birthing services continue to disappear.

Tanunda ceased its birthing services in 2018 and were never reinstated, while Jamestown lost its services in 2015, but were reinstated in 2016.

Member for Frome Penny Pratt was concerned about this frequency of which midwifery services were being withdrawn from country SA.

"The problem is being diverted to the next town down the road until every expectant mother will end up being sent to Adelaide," she said.

"This trend of constant disruption and disadvantage to rural maternity patients urgently needs to be corrected. The workforce shortage needs to be addressed by investing more into regional health services and providing better incentives for more midwives to relocate to our regions.

"It is an exciting time when a baby is on the way and mothers deserve access to the best care, close to their home, regardless of their postcode," she said.