Mid West candidates say Nationals’ vow to restore Carnarvon maternity service within 100 days is unrealistic

Candidates for the Mid West have had their say on the Nationals’ pledge to restore Carnarvon’s maternity service within 100 days, with both the Labor and Liberal parties believing the time line is “unrealistic”.

Last week, Nationals leader Shane Love announced his party, if elected to government, would restore the Gascoyne town’s maternity service within the party’s first 100 days in office.

He also warned the WA Country Health Service board must resign if the deadline was not met.

The service was shut down in 2022, with Mr Love saying Labor “abandoned” the Gascoyne community.

However, Labor candidate Jenna Denton said the 100-day deadline was not an appropriate time line for restoring the service.

“As a woman who has birthed two babies, both high-risk, I understand the need to ensure a regional service is well equipped and set up appropriately to meet the needs of each community and the complexities that can come with bringing a tiny human into the world,” she said.

“One-hundred days to re-establish a clinical service is not realistic, fair, or responsible governing.“

Ms Denton said having worked at St John of God Hospital in Geraldton, she understood the needs of women giving birth in the regions.

“I am acutely aware of the perinatal and midwifery needs of women and families in the Mid West, and how important it is for regional women to birth in their home region where at all possible,” she said.

“I will fight for communities that currently don’t have access to birthing services.

“However, there is an obvious need to first ensure adequate staffing, strong clinical governance, risk mitigation for health professionals in regional service delivery, emergency management, and to ensure the model of care is women and baby-centred.

“Without this, families won’t feel safe, nor will it allow for a positive birth experience.”

Last week, the State Government confirmed the cancellation of Carnarvon’s maternity service was not permanent, saying it was looking at ways to restore it.

Meanwhile, North West Central MLA and Liberal candidate for Mid West Merome Beard said Labor had let down health services, but rushing the process could cause issues down the line.

“There’s absolutely no doubt restoring the basic requirement of maternity services in Carnarvon is essential and needs to be a top priority — a need I’ve been advocating for since its closure nearly three years ago,” she said.

“Maternity care requires a team of highly skilled professionals, including midwives and obstetricians, and these positions must be filled with individuals who are both committed to the profession and invested in the local community.

“Rushing this process to meet an arbitrary deadline risks delivering a service that is not properly resourced, leading to further disruptions and poor outcomes for expectant mothers and their babies.”

The Liberal Party said it was committed to restoring maternity services in Carnarvon through its $400 million Regional Health Development Initiative, as well as providing Government Regional Officer Housing for health professionals moving to the area.