Big names back bid to save mat ward
HIGH-PROFILE identities have thrown their support behind a push to save maternity services at Epworth Geelong.
The Waurn Ponds hospital’s maternity unit is slated to close on March 1, with consultation around the proposal under way.
A petition titled Save Epworth Geelong Maternity Unit was started by local GP Elise Davey and has garnered more than 9000 signatures.
Lifestyle entrepreneur and influencer Emma Hawkins, wife of Cats star Tom, posted a message of support for the hospital’s maternity services on Instagram.
She wrote she had been lucky to have two of her three children delivered at the hospital.
“I can’t imagine others not being able to have the same opportunity and access to the wonderful staff and facilities there,” she said.
“Thinking of the expecting families and current staff affected at the moment.
“Hopefully they can secure more staff and this can change.”
She said that given the enormous population growth the region had experienced, closing the private maternity unit would be a devastating blow.
Demi Duncan, a business woman and wife of Cats player Mitch, said her heart was broken over the news.
“The most beautiful hospital with the best maternity staff,” the mum of three wrote on Instagram.
Premiership skipper Joel Selwood wrote the hospital was a perfect place to bring a baby into the world. Wife Brit, who is expecting a baby, also shared the petition.
“So shattering for everyone involved,” she wrote.
Patients and staff were among signers of the petition.
“I’m a midwife currently employed at Epworth and we provide an outstanding service to the Geelong community,” one wrote.
“We can’t (lose) this service.”
It’s understood of the region’s three hospitals, Epworth Geelong delivers the lowest number of babies.
Epworth has previously refused to reveal the number of babies delivered at the hospital, instead providing yearon-year growth percentages.
Dr Davey, who is on maternity leave after giving birth at Epworth, said her main reason for launching the petition was one of the benefits of the private system was it relieved pressure from the public system.
Obstetrics Gynaecology Ballarat and Surf Coast (OGB), which is at the Epworth, said in a statement doctors had “moved rapidly” to ensure all patients had certainty regarding their maternity care, and they would be able to give birth at St John of God Geelong.
“The transition will occur in the near future, and all OGB patients will be fully informed when this takes place,” the statement read.
“Both the executive at St John of God Geelong and Epworth Geelong have been extremely helpful in this process.”
Barwon Health said it would work together with St John of God Geelong to ensure families were supported throughout pregnancy and birth.
A new public Geelong women’s and children’s hospital is expected to open in 2029.
A St John of God Geelong Hospital maternity redevelopment project is expected to be completed in July 2023.