The Cooktown-based midwifery team is now fully staffed for the first time in three years and is eager to get to work.
WHILE the birthing services are still on pause, an intensive recruitment process has resulted in the Cooktown Hospital’s midwifery team being fully staffed for the first time in three years.
The team provides antenatal and post-natal care to women and babies in Cooktown, Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal, Lakeland and Laura.
Cooktown-based director of nursing Vikki Jackson said the team comprised a clinical midwife consultant, three midwives and a women’s health nurse.
“We are thrilled to offer a full complement of midwifery staff to the local community for the first time since 2020,’’ she said.
“We now have an extremely balanced team who are very experienced in working in rural and remote locations.
“They are working very well together and are determined to ensure women and their families in our communities get the best care possible.”
A new maternal and child health nurse in the Cooktown team is part of the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service’s wider investment in maternal, child and family health.
A major expansion of the maternal, child and family health service, which was announced in May, included six new clinicians – who are both midwives and child health nurses – and four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker positions.
They will provide a comprehensive visiting outreach service to communities across Cape York.
“We know that providing maternity services close to where women live significantly improves health and well-being outcomes for both the mother and baby,” Ms Jackson said.
“This also allows culturally responsive care and ‘birthing on country’ to become an accessible service for First Nations women.’’
