Southern NSW Local Health District apologises to woman in labour — ABC News Australia
In Australia, the Southern NSW Local Health District has apologised to a woman who reported inadequate care during childbirth at Queanbeyan Hospital. According to ABC News Australia, the woman, who asked to be called Kate, believes her newborn daughter could have died because of shortcomings in medical care during the birth in May.
The mother's complaint
Kate said she arrived at the hospital with contractions five minutes apart and requested an epidural as soon as possible. According to her, for several hours the midwife did not check the extent of cervical dilation, ask about the progress of contractions, assess her pain or monitor the baby's heartbeat.
The woman said she was given pain-relieving gas only after she pressed the call button and asked for help. By the time the epidural was arranged, it was already too late to administer it, Kate claims. According to her, medical staff tried to involve other doctors, while a caesarean section could not be arranged in time because of the baby's low heart rate.
According to Kate, her daughter was born with the umbilical cord around her neck, was in critical condition and required immediate resuscitation. She added that the child is now doing well, but she herself would not recommend Queanbeyan's maternity unit to other expectant mothers.
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Health district's response
The Southern NSW Local Health District said its representatives had discussed the mother's experience and concerns with her. It acknowledged that her family's experience did not meet the district's and community's expectations for care at Queanbeyan's maternity service.
Following Kate's stay at the hospital, the district established a working group to implement changes aimed at clinical safety and improving workplace culture. The Clinical Excellence Commission, which is responsible for patient safety in the state, and the Health Ministry were also involved in preparing recommendations to improve the maternity service.
Earlier, according to NSW Health, four general practitioners who provided obstetric care temporarily stopped providing services at Queanbeyan Hospital amid clinical and cultural issues, including strained relations with midwives. Other doctors were brought in to replace them, and an interim head of the maternity department was also appointed.
