Summit to strengthen birthing in rural and remote Queensland

Cairns is holding a unique Rural Birth Summit with the aim of bringing birth services back to the bush.

Hosted by The University of Queensland’s Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies (QCMB), the summit will bring together parents, doctors, midwives, politicians and bureaucrats to find practical solutions to strengthen maternity care in rural and remote Queensland.

Guest speaker for the day is Queensland Health Minister, Lawrence Springborg.

QCMB Director Professor Sue Kruske said maternity services in the bush had steadily declined over the years to the point now where many women ended up having to travel to major centres to have their babies.

“Once upon a time, most women were able to give birth in the community they lived in,” Professor Kruske said.

“But over the years, for a number of reasons, birth services have either been downgraded or completely removed from towns all over Queensland. What we are seeing now is a growing swell of support to restore these services from parents, clinicians and politicians.”

Cairns mum Bec Waqanikalou said women deserved better maternity options everywhere.

“Currently women from north of Mossman have to leave their home, their family and their support at 36 weeks to travel to Cairns to have their babies, many with no-one to support them before, during or after the birth. There are a limited number of support services for these women with many having great financial, social and emotional pressures because of this,” Mrs Waqanikalou said.

“The time for change is now. There is enough evidence to support the safety of the different models of care, there is unrivalled political will and obvious consumer demand, all that is required is for local & district leaders to take up the challenge and facilitate the change by acting now without delay.”

Dr Tony Brown, a Senior Medical Officer at Mareeba Hospital, said the day was not just another “talk-fest”.

“We are focused on finding practical solutions to build stronger and more sustainable rural maternity services for communities in North Queensland,” Dr Brown said.

The Summit is hosted by the QCMB in partnership with the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland, the Maternity Coalition, the Australian College of Midwives Qld Branch, the Statewide Maternal & Neonatal Clinical Network, and the Statewide Rural & Remote Clinical Network.

The Summit runs from 9am to 4pm at Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, 35-41 Wharf St, Cairns.

Media: The Minister will address the summit at 9.20am and be available to the media at 10.45am. For more information, contact Andrew Dunne, QCMB Communications Manager, on 0433 364 181.