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Prenatal care in Kununurra

Posted By requirementwh73

"Prenatal care in Kununurra"

About: Kununurra Community Health Service Kununurra Hospital / Maternity Ward

(as the patient),

Second pregnancy, first successful one. Had to privately see a doctor at the local GP for the first 20 weeks, paying for most of those appointments. Due to the nature of waiting 3-4 weeks for a doctors appointment I saw 3 different doctors during my time and 2 different nurses. Mostly good care but I found one doctor was quite rough and rushed particularly when I had a chemical pregnancy first time around and I didn’t feel gave me much bedside manner or care.

Then I was looked after by the public hospital midwife and obstetrician at the hospital. Both whose care was faultless except that our appointments were maybe a bit rushed and there was not much time in our appointments, as I believe you could see they both had too much work on (taking professional phone calls during appointments, being half an hour behind to see me). The midwife particularly went above and beyond, answering weekend texts and getting me scripts when needed.

In my opinion, the limited options in Kununurra hospital is difficult; if you’re considered high risk or overweight or big baby you’re sent to Perth or Broome. There is no labouring pool which is a huge disappointment to me, no ability to bring in your own pool and no private midwife to organise a possible home birth with if water is one if your pain management techniques. Also, I understand, no flexibility in regards to putting your health funding towards your own home birth/ different choices.

It was particularly frustrating to have to repeat myself to so so so many different caregivers (doctors, midwives, obstetricians, nurses…). It would be such a different and nurturing experience to see the same 2 people throughout my journey. It would be great to have a continuity of care model available in Kununurra as we are the centre of the east Kimberley with hundreds of children born each year. 

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Responses

Response from Robyn Timms, A/Operations Manager, East Kimberley, WACHS Kimberley nearly 2 years ago
Robyn Timms
A/Operations Manager, East Kimberley,
WACHS Kimberley

Submitted on 2/06/2022 at 3:36 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 3:58 PM

Dear requirementwh73,

Thank you for sharing your health care experience at the Kununurra District Hospital. It is important that we get feedback about our services, so I appreciate that you took the time and effort to contact us through the Care Opinion website.

On behalf of the Kununurra District Hospital, I would like to express my regret that the health care options that were available to you did not meet expectations.

I note your comments about seeing a General Practitioner (GP) during the early part of your pregnancy, and the cost involved. It is important we have availability and high standard of primary health service options such as GP’s in the East Kimberley. These services is not a part of the WA Country Health Service. The primary care services are funded by the Commonwealth government through Medicare and primary care providers are responsible for setting the cost of the visits.

Thank you for your comments about the limited clinical services options available at the Kununurra District Hospital. WA Country Health Service in the East Kimberley provides maternity care for women with low risk pregnancies. I am sure that you understand that we aim to provide the safest and most appropriate level of clinical care that we possibly can to this community. People with higher risk pregnancies need to be cared for in larger centres, such as Broome, where a comprehensive range of clinical services are available.

Continuity and consistency of health care is very important as you have raised. We have recently developed a new model of Midwifery care to endeavour to provide a more consistent relationship between the midwives and the pregnant women in this community. We will continue to build on this model. Your comments have certainly highlighted this issue and we will be feeding back to the Medical and Midwifery and Allied Health staff.

Feedback both from the community and from individuals is important to assist us to deliver high quality and safe care. If you are interested in being involved to assist us to shape the services provided in the East Kimberley, there is the opportunity to apply to join our District Health Advisory Council. The members of the Council are constantly looking for ways to engage with us to inform and improve our local service delivery. Please email me on ek.operationsmanager@health.wa.gov.au if you are interested in receiving further information.

Thank you once again for bringing this issue to the attention of the Kununurra District Hospital. If you believe that these issues have not been adequately attended to, please know that you may pursue this matter with the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO). HaDSCO are an external and independent agency who provide a free impartial resolution service for complaints relating to any health or disability service in WA.

HaDSCO can be contacted on 08 6551 7600 or at mail@hadsco.wa.gov.au

Again, my sincere thanks for your feedback.

Kind regards,

Robyn Timms

Acting Operations Manager, East Kimberley

Kununurra, Wyndham and Halls Creek

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