Women across Shellharbour are being asked to share their experiences as part of growing pressure to improve access to maternity care in the Illawarra Shoalhaven.
Better Births Illawarra is asking women to attend its monthly catch-up, which will focus on the new $780 million Shellharbour Hospital, currently being built without birthing suites.
Earlier this month, the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre asked local women to contact their local MPs to express their concerns about the hospital’s lack of birthing suites.
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.
The call-out led to Shellharbour MP Anna Watson meeting with Illawarra WHC and Better Births Illawarra to discuss women’s concerns.
Ms Watson said she will continue to work towards Shellharbour Hospital having a full suite of maternity services.
“As this is a growing area with lots of young families, I am very supportive of the new Shellharbour Hospital having a full suite of maternity services. I will continue to work with the Minister to ensure this will happen in the future,” she said.
Sharon Settecasse, co-founder of Better Births Illawarra, said women in the region do not want to travel to Wollongong to give birth.
“We are committed to hearing what the community has been telling us: they want birthing suites at Shellharbour. They do not want to be traveling to Wollongong,” she said.
“We are working with the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre to find out more about what the community needs and wants.”
During the monthly catch-up on Friday, February 28, Shellharbour Hospital will be top of the agenda. Women are invited to drop in anytime between 10.30am and 12.30pm to ask questions, share experiences, and connect at Central Park, 81 The Boulevard, Oak Flats.
General Manager of the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, Ali Anderson, said the Centre looked forward to working with Better Births Illawarra to support women’s needs at the new Shellharbour Hospital.
“Better Births Illawarra amplified women’s voices during the Birth Trauma Inquiry. They are a formidable ally in this campaign to ensure the women of Shellharbour and the surrounding community receive the facilities they need to have a healthy birthing experience,” she said.
If you can’t get along to the catch-up, you can still 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 and Federal Candidate for Whitlam, Carol Berry: 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 best-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]
