Doctor staffing crisis overcome at Gladstone Hospital
Associate Professor Gino Pecoraro welcomes news that full birthing services have resumed, but says questions remain.
A hospital banned from providing full birthing services because of a shortage of obstetricians and gynaecologists is now back offering care to women with low-risk pregnancies.
As a result of a staffing crisis, Gladstone Hospital in Queensland was placed on a birthing bypass last year, with women being diverted to hospitals more than 100km away.
In October, the hospital — some 550km north of Brisbane — had reintroduced elective caesareans, and in early February it was able to offer emergency obstetric care.
Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said it was now fully operational for women with low risk pregnancies, after the recruitment of additional doctors.
