Almost 18 months after NSW Health Minister Ryan Park apologised to the state’s women for the standard of maternity care, concerns continue to be raised about the lack of birthing suites for mothers in the Illawarra Shoalhaven.
Minister Park’s apology came after hearing thousands of harrowing stories from mothers across NSW during the state inquiry into birth trauma. The final report called for urgent efforts to address 43 recommendations, including a lack of continuity of care.
However, women in the Illawarra Shoalhaven have once again raised concerns about their access to maternity care in the region, especially since the new $780 million Shellharbour Hospital will not have any birthing suites.
We aim to explain what’s happening and how you can help make a difference.
Why is maternity care in the news?
The number of births occurring on the side of the road is the highest in 10 years, according to Health NSW data reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.
The publication spoke to Anja Adams, who gave birth to her son at the side of the Princes Highway on her way to Shoalhaven Hospital, an hour away from her home in Burrill Lake.
She had to drive past Milton-Ulladulla Hospital, 15 minutes from their home, after it stopped delivering birthing services in 2016.
In Rouse Hill, a $700 million new hospital will not have birthing suites; neither will the new Shellharbour Hospital.
Both will have midwifery-led clinics, midwifery group practice clinics, and post-natal services but no maternity ward.
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre and Shellharbour MP Anna Watson has been vocal about the lack of a maternity ward. Prior to the 2023 NSW state election, Ms Watson said: “In my view, the maternity ward is essential,” Ms Watson said. “It’s not an added extra; it’s absolutely essential.”
In the Shoalhaven there are no publicly announced plans for any new birthing units in the $438 million Shoalhaven Hospital redevelopment.
What does that mean for Illawarra women?
Women living in and around Shellharbour who wish to give birth in a public hospital will need to drive to Wollongong Hospital to give birth.
Those living closer to Nowra will give birth at the 13-bed unit at Shoalhaven Hospital.
But why aren’t they building birthing units?
According to Planning NSW, the Illawarra Shoalhaven population will grow by 27 per cent by 2041, likely from young adults and families.
However, despite the expected growth, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District told the Illawarra Mercury in September 2023 that modeling showed another birth service wasn’t needed in the district.
“Projected volumes do not support the establishment of a safe and viable third birthing service in ISLHD in the current planning horizon,” they said.
What does the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre think?
As you can imagine, we firmly believe women in the Illawarra Shoalhaven should have access to state-of-the-art maternity services, including dedicated birthing suites close to where they live.
General Manager of the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, Ali Anderson said: “‘It is incredibly frustrating that as of January 2025, there are still no publicly announced plans for any new birthing units in either the new Shellharbour Hospital or the $438 million Shoalhaven Hospital redevelopment.
“The Illawarra Shoalhaven region already faces a critical shortage of maternity services and birthing units and this lack of accessible, local maternity care forces women to travel long distances to give birth, creating undue stress and risking complications, particularly in emergencies.
“The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre continues to call for the establishment of a fully equipped birthing/maternity unit and comprehensive suite of women’s health services within the Shellharbour Hospital redevelopment as we have for the last two years, to ensure that women in the region have the support, care, and dignity they deserve during one of the most significant times of their lives.”
Executive Director Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, Sally Stevenson said: “In 2025, there is absolutely no excuse for women giving birth in NSW not to have access to best practice maternity services and support – especially those in regional and remote areas.
“We know there is much work to be done, as evidenced by the 43 recommendations of the report into birth trauma, of which 42 have been supported by the NSW Government. In this context, that the new Shellharbour Hospital will not have a maternity ward or a birthing unit, when we know the Illawarra is one of the fastest growing regions in NSW, is bewildering – and illustrates how women’s health continues to consistently and systemically be neglected.
“We call on the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District to be a leader in the delivery of women’s health in NSW and include a maternity unit in the hospital. It is not too late to make this right.“
What you can do to help
If you agree with us, you can make an impact by emailing NSW Health Minister Ryan Park and your local MP to let them know that women in Illawarra Shoalhaven need comprehensive maternity services.
Who to send your email to
- NSW Health Minister and Member for Keira Ryan Park: keira@parliament.nsw.gov.au
- Member for Shellharbour, Anna Watson: shellharbour@parliament.nsw.gov.au
- NSW Planning Minister and Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully: wollongong@parliament.nsw.gov.au
- Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward: kiama@parliament.nsw.gov.au
- Federal Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes: alison.byrnes.mp@aph.gov.au
- Federal Member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones: stephen.jones.mp@aph.gov.au
- Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips: fiona.phillips.mp@aph.gov.au
What you can say
To make it easy for you we’ve written a letter below that you may wish to use as a template to email your State or Federal representative.
Dear Minister Park,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the lack of birthing suites at the new Shellharbour Hospital. As a member of our community and a concerned citizen, I believe it is crucial to address the impact this issue may have on expectant mothers and their families.
With the opening of the new hospital, many local residents were hopeful that it would offer state-of-the-art healthcare services for a range of needs, including maternity care. However, the absence of dedicated birthing suites in the facility raises significant concerns about the quality and accessibility of maternity services for women in our region.
Birthing suites are essential for providing a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment for women during labour and delivery. Without them, expectant mothers may face increased stress and potential complications, as they may have to travel further to access suitable facilities or face a less optimal setting for childbirth. This situation could also place additional strain on our local healthcare system.
I strongly urge you to ensure Shellharbour Hospital has a fully funded birthing unit, as well as a range of bets practice alternative options that ensure local women have access to high-quality maternity care close to home. It is essential that we prioritise the health and well-being of mothers and babies in our community by addressing this gap in the hospital’s services.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would appreciate any information you can provide regarding the hospital’s plans for maternity services and any steps being taken to address this issue. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
