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"Maternity health"

About: Katanning Health Service / Obstetrics

(as a parent/guardian),

Having had my baby in Perth at KEMH, I then returned home to Katanning, where maternity and the child health nurse have been fabulous!

My baby is jaundice and Katanning health don’t have facilities to take a blood test, so I have had to travel to Narrogin twice so far for the blood test to be done there. 

In my opinion, this is ridiculous that a country town that has babies in it, can’t facilitate a simple blood test, instead, I have to travel over 100km with two children after just giving birth. 

It would be great if Katanning could be updated. Although babies aren't being born here, they come back here not long after birth!

Midwife and child health nurse has been amazing and supportive and very sorry they have had to inform me of travel, I am so thankful for them! 

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Responses

Response from Jennifer Thompson, A/MPS Operations Manager, Regional Office, WACHS 3 years ago
Jennifer Thompson
A/MPS Operations Manager, Regional Office,
WACHS

Overseas the operation of the smaller hospitals in the Great Southern

Submitted on 26/11/2020 at 7:28 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 27/11/2020 at 10:03 AM


Hello Katanning6317,

Thank you for your feedback and I am very pleased that you are receiving such excellent care and support from the Midwife and Child Health Nurse.

As you may be aware, Nurses and Midwives work diligently to provide the best care and support to their patients and receiving such positive feedback is appreciated.

In relation to your baby’s care, I have investigated the capacity of Katanning Health Service to conduct the blood tests to assess jaundice levels and I can advise the following:

The blood sample for an SBR (test for jaundice) is a heel prick test that can be taken by the staff at Katanning, however, the analysis requires a more equipped laboratory, hence the need for involvement of Narrogin Health Service.

The need for you to travel to Narrogin arose when the Doctor ordered a number of other tests which required a larger amount of blood than the midwife felt comfortable to take. There is no need for you to travel to and from Narrogin if your baby requires an SBR test only and the Katanning Health Service can courier the blood samples to Narrogin for analysis.

I would encourage you to contact Robyn Millar, Director of Nursing/Health Service Manager on 0438081352 and she will assist you to access the tests in Katanning.

Once again, thank you for your feedback and I wish you all the best.

Kind regards,

Jenny Thompson Operations Manager MPS

WA Country Health Service Great Southern

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