Babies should no longer be delivered at Bentley Hospital and efficiency needs to be improved at other metropolitan hospitals, a review of maternity services across Perth has found.
The review, led by senior obstetrician Con Michael, found the safety of caesarean deliveries at the hospital in Perth’s south-east could not be guaranteed and there were no senior staff rostered on after hours.
Obstetricians had to share theatres with other surgical teams, and the hospital’s caesarean rate was 30 per cent.
“On current delivery numbers, this represents in excess of 300 caesarean section operations in an environment where there is a delayed response rate (out-of-hours) for caesarean section and future reduction in operating theatre availability,” the review found.
“Ready access to an operating theatre for caesarean section and some operative vaginal deliveries is essential for maintaining safety.”
It found the hospital was “an unsatisfactory facility that is badly in need of refurbishing”.
“It is not conducive to establishing a different and safe contemporary model of care,” the report found.
Currently, all high-risk maternity services are provided by King Edward Memorial Hospital, but the report suggested it might be more efficient for the hospital to cater for women with complex deliveries who live north of the river, while Fiona Stanley Hospital [FSH] could deal with those living south of the river.
Midwifery-led care recommended
A major change to the way maternity care is provided in public hospitals was also recommended, in order to combat the increasingly high caesarean rate.
Instead of the increasingly fragmented conventional medical model currently being used, the report recommended a midwife-led continuity of care model for low and moderate risk pregnancies, which would save money and lead to a reduction in both caesarean rates and hospital stays for women after delivery.
It said the new model was “cost effective, safe and more productive than standard models of care”.
Significant changes to maternity services have taken place recently or are imminent, including the closure of Kaleeya Hospital in East Fremantle and the pending closure of Swan Districts Hospital, as well as the opening of FSH and St John of God Midland Public Hospital.
Health Minister Kim Hames welcomed the review and said the Health Department would develop a plan based on its recommendations.
“I am confident it will provide us with the right blueprint to ensure we can continue to provide safe and high quality maternity services across the metropolitan area,” he said in a statement.