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Care Opinion

Closing of birthing rooms

Posted By capelladp74

"Closing of birthing rooms"

About: Armadale Hospital King Edward Memorial Hospital

(as a relative),

Armadale Hospital has decided to close the Kalamunda Birthing Rooms for the second time during my wife's pregnancy, and she is well into her third trimester. She has been getting herself psychologically ready for this and has just received a call today saying that it has been closed. It seems to us that Armadale Hospital is uneasy about births taking place there.

The Community Midwifery Program, overseen by the King Edward Memorial Hospital, use the Kalamunda Birthing Rooms for women who are having low-risk births and are eligible for a home birth under the Community Midwifery Program.

We have had our other children at the Kalamunda Birthing Rooms which have been positive experiences. The setting, privacy and expertise of the midwives has led my wife to opt to have our baby there as well, all going well.

While various bureaucratic and insurance pressures are no doubt at play, there needs to be a review as to why the Kalamunda Birthing Rooms remain under the jurisdiction of Armadale Health if they are not willing to have births there. It is unfortunate that we have been caught out and it has caused unnecessary stress for my heavily pregnant wife. We will likely now continue with option 2, which is the home birth.

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Responses

Response from Diane Barr, Executive Director, Armadale Kalamunda Group 6 years ago
Diane Barr
Executive Director,
Armadale Kalamunda Group

Submitted on 20/03/2018 at 7:08 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 21/03/2018 at 11:20 AM

picture of Diane Barr

Dear capelladp74,

Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention and I am very sorry that the advice you received had led to your wife experiencing unnecessary stress and anxieties.

I believe that a representative from the Community Midwifery Program (CMP) has been in contact with you to confirm that your wife will be able to birth at Kalamunda Hospital or at a place where your wife feels most comfortable when deciding her options with CMP.

The pregnancy journey and the birth of a child is a special experience for women and their families and we are working closely with Women and Newborn Health Service to develop an arrangement that ensures women booked through the CMP service can access safe and timely care at a location that is appropriate to women’s needs.

Thank you again for raising this matter with me and I wish your wife and you a wonderful and positive birthing experience.

Yours sincerely

Di Barr

Executive Director

Armadale Kalamunda Group

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Graeme Boardley, Director Midwifery, Nursing and Patient Support Services, Women and Newborn Health Service, King Edward Memorial Hospital 6 years ago
Graeme Boardley
Director Midwifery, Nursing and Patient Support Services, Women and Newborn Health Service,
King Edward Memorial Hospital

Submitted on 21/03/2018 at 11:43 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:24 PM

picture of Graeme Boardley

Dear capelladp74,

Thank you for taking the time to bring the concerns of you and your wife to my attention. I wish to extend my sincere apologies to you both for the stress this uncertainty has caused at this very special time in your lives.

I am pleased that we have reached an agreement with the Armadale Kalamunda Group which will enable your wife and other expectant mothers to give birth at the hospital with the Community Midwifery Program. I believe a CMP representative has shared this welcome information with your wife.

I am delighted that you have had positive experiences with the births of your other children through the CMP and wish you and your wife all the very best for the impending birth of your newest addition to your family.

Yours sincerely,

Graeme Boardley

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by capelladp74 (a relative)

Dear Di and Graeme,

Thanks sincerely for your responses. And thanks especially for working at your end to ensure the Kalamunda Birthing Rooms are again able to be used for births.

I realise there are complexities involved of which I know little about. Thanks for all your hard work.

I can certainly commend both the CMP and the Kalamunda Birthing Rooms to others.

Thanks again.

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