Expectant and birthing mothers across the Clarence Valley were referred to Lismore Base Hospital and Coffs Harbour Health Campus last week after a statement released by the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) on August 2 revealed there was no on-site obstetrician at Grafton Base Hospital (GBH), or locums available to fill shortages, which were expected to continue until August 6.

Chief Executive of the NNSWLHD Wayne Jones apologised to pregnant women and their families for the inconvenience, adding all efforts were being made to source specialist obstetrician cover at GBH, and “every step was being taken to secure appropriate consult cover and obstetric services going forward.”

Mr Jones said women who were being cared for through GBH were encouraged to continue to contact their usual midwife for advice and care coordination during their pregnancy, and midwives remained in place at GBH with access to an obstetrics consultant through telehealth.

A following statement issued by the NNSWLHD on August 4 revealed staff had adjusted their rosters to meet local need.

Mr Jones confirmed the NNSWLHD has been “actively recruiting to this specialist role for a period of time,” at GBH, and said the safety of mothers and babies remained their primary concern.

During an interview on Loving Life FM 103.1 last week, Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said the situation at GBH was “pretty systematic of what is happening in other regional communities,” due to a lack of medical specialists, adding the local health district has “a budget to engage health professionals for every circumstance.”

“The State Government has allocated $4.5 billion in this budget to recruit an additional 10000 healthcare workers in this term of government,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“They’re committed to recruiting and employing 7500 in this term of government, so they’re certainly putting their money where their mouth is, and they offered a bonus of $3000 to help staff through the Covid-19 pandemic, so there is incentive there to engage and recruit staff, but there’s just a shortage of staff right around the world.”

Mr Gulaptis said, “how we attract them (medical professionals to regional communities) is a big question.”

“We can’t force medical professionals to come here, sometimes it feels like we need to, it’s just systematic of what is happening right around the world,” he said.