Opposition Leader claims State Government consideration of FIFO midwives for Carnarvon is a ‘betrayal’

The WA Opposition says the possibility of introducing a FIFO maternity workforce for Carnarvon would be a “betrayal”, after the State Government promised the closure of local services would only be temporary. FIFO midwives are being considered to restart birthing services in Carnarvon more than two years after they were scrapped in the face of critical staffing shortages. Since then, at least 197 expectant mothers have been forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to either Geraldton or Perth to give birth. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson told Budget estimates earlier this week the Government was in “active discussions” about jetting midwives into Carnarvon from Perth on a rotating roster. The revelation comes just days after private operator St John of God Health Care announced it was shuttering maternity services at its Bunbury hospital, which follows a similar move at its Mt Lawley campus in late 2023, due to staff shortages. SJOG says a similar move will not happen at its Geraldton hospital. Opposition Leader Shane Love said a potential FIFO workforce for Carnarvon was a band aid solution after years of “neglect and inaction”. “This admission shows they have failed to improve staffing levels in the Gascoyne, despite having over two years to address the issue,” he said. “This is a slippery slope that should concern every regional community. Instead of providing genuine local health care, this lazy Labor Government resorts to costly FIFO nurses and doctors and abandons long-term solutions to our regional health crisis.” Ms Sanderson said regional maternity care was “challenged around the nation” and “not in any way unique to Western Australia”. “It was a very difficult decision to scale down the birthing services at Carnarvon but maternity services remain and women are supported to birth safely at Perth or Geraldton, whichever town of their choosing,” she said. “We have undertaken a review of those services around regional Western Australia and are looking at some innovative workforce models, including discussions with the (Australian Nursing Federation) around a fly in, fly out model.” Ms Sanderson said those discussions were “ongoing” and that it was her “ambition” to reinstate birthing services at Carnarvon. “We do pre and ante (natal) care now with a workforce that is situated in Carnarvon but a FIFO roster model could potentially cover birthing,” she said. “Can I give you a time frame on when it can be done safely? Not at this time — because that is the priority, staffing them safely.” Ms Sanderson said there were already “significant financial incentives” for medical workers to relocate to the regions but that for midwives in particular, there were often a range of other considerations. Ms Sanderson added many midwives were keen to work “for a number of weeks” at a time in the regions without “having to relocate their entire family”. “You have to remember this is a female workforce . . . and they often have children themselves,” she said.