Birthing has now resumed at Cooktown after the service at Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service ceased in February 2022. Photo: Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.
Birthing services have resumed in the Cook Shire more than four and a half years after Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service closed its doors to expectant mums, the State Government has announced.
On Sunday, the government said it would deliver on a key election promise and birthing services would recommence the following day (14 September).
It’s expected the service in one of the Cape’s biggest towns will oversee about 40 births a year.
Premier David Crisafulli said the return of the Cooktown service was a significant milestone and part of delivering health services when Queenslanders need them.
“We made a commitment to regional Queenslanders we’d restore these services and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” he said.
“Families have waited a long time for the return of these birthing services after they were cut by the former government.
Premier David Crisafulli announced the resumption of birthing services at Cooktown with Health Minister Tim Nicholls and Cook MP David Kempton. Photo: Supplied.
“I was born in a small country hospital so delivering on this commitment is deeply personal for me.”
Health and Ambulance Services Minister Tim Nicholls said the government worked to strengthen the local workforce, clinical capability and infrastructure to make sure birthing could resume in Cooktown in a safe and sustainable way.
“We’ve made targeted investments to recruit more clinicians and improve local facilities to ensure the safe return of birthing services to these communities,” he said.
“This is about delivering on our commitment to regional Queensland and making sure women and families can access quality maternity and birthing care closer to home and their support systems.
“The facts now speak for themselves – Labor governments close maternity services, while LNP governments open them.”
Cook MP David Kempton said the closure of the birthing service more than four years ago disregarded the needs of Cook Shire residents.
“Families who previously would have needed to travel to Cairns from four to six weeks prior to the birth of their babies may no longer need to do so, thanks to these vital services being restored,” he said.
Cook MP David Kempton says closing the service more than four years ago disregarded the needs of residents. Photo: Supplied.
Birthing at Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service will be overseen by Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS), which has been recruiting for positions.
TCHHS chief executive Rex O’Rourke added: “We expect approximately 40 births each year from Cooktown and surrounding communities.”
“Of course, women may still choose to birth elsewhere, however, for the first time in many years they once again have the choice to birth locally,” he said.
TCHHS has now hired obstetric-trained rural generalist healthcare staff to complement the existing Cooktown medical team. The health service has already recruited midwives and anaesthetic-trained rural generalists to support the service.
Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes was optimistic about the announcement when she took to social media, but had a question for Mr Nicholls.
“Level 3 birthing services includes pathology. Can you confirm for all the future mums in southern Cape York Peninsula that pathology is included to ensure they receive ‘world-class health services’,” she asked.
More information will be sought.
