Member for Cook Cynthia Lui, Premier Steven Miles, Cooktown mum Stephanie Henebery, midwife Anna Humphrey, Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman and Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service chief executive Rex O’Rourke are all smiles at the announcement birthing services will return to Cooktown by mid-2025 if Labor retains power on 26 October. Photo: Supplied.
Birthing services will return to Cooktown by “mid next year” if Labor retains government at this month’s state election, according to Premier Steven Miles.
The announcement, made on 30 September just before the government went into caretaker mode ahead of the 26 October election, will allow expectant mothers from Cooktown, Lakeland, Laura, Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal to give birth locally, instead of having to travel to Cairns.
The election promise, if delivered, would mean local birthing options would be once again available in south-eastern and western Cape York after maternity services returned to Weipa for the first time in a quarter of a century in May.
Premier Miles said he believed it was important for Cape York mothers-to-be to be able to deliver their babies in their own backyard.
“As health minister, I saw first-hand the importance of having access to quality health care services, closer to home and, as Premier, I’m delivering,” he said.
“We are attracting and recruiting skilled clinicians to our regions, and doing what matters to improve the services we deliver right around the state.
“It’s because of my government’s investment we’re able to support the return of birthing services in Cooktown from mid next year.
“This is a huge step forward in the clinical care we offer in the Cape, and I want to thank local champion Cynthia Lui for her ongoing advocacy for local women and mums.”
It is anticipated about 40 births per year will occur in Cooktown each year once the service returns.
The decision comes on the back of the last month’s revelation the government had revised the timeline for the delivery of the $200 million Cooktown Hospital, with works now scheduled to be completed during the 2027-28 financial year.
The government said a new recruitment campaign would be launched to attract the rural generalist general practitioners in obstetrics required to ensure the return of Cooktown maternity services were clinically sustainable and culturally safe.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said she believed the announcement would mean improved outcomes for mothers and their babies on eastern Cape York.
“I am so pleased that our advocacy on behalf of the women of Cape York has delivered birthing services in Weipa, and will resume in Cooktown soon,” she said.
“A significant number of these pregnant women will no longer need to travel to Cairns to give birth once birthing services resume in Cooktown; this will allow women to have their babies closer to home, which we know is culturally important and safer for First Nations women.’’
