Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff's refusal to act immediately on transferring North West Maternity Services back to the Tasmanian Health Service further demonstrates he is not committed to supporting staff, mothers or improving access to maternity services in the North West.
Today in Parliament, I shared the story of Sarah a North-West woman who said: "the trauma and fear that my birthing experience has given me will live with me forever and has affected my bonding experience with my child, my relationship with my partner and myself".
While acknowledging the stress and trauma North-West mothers have experienced, the Premier skirted around the question and had to be prompted to say he would meet with mothers "if people reach out" to him.
The current situation with North West Maternity Services is very serious and the Government has had nearly a decade to provide leadership and improve this important service.
Why hasn't the Premier, who is also the Minister for Health and a Braddon MP, already acted and proactively met with these women?
Maternity services on the North-West Coast have been declared by the Australian Medical Association as unsafe and a medical emergency.
Women, families and babies cannot wait until November 2024 for this service to be returned to the THS.
A Labor Government would ensure that the transfer of North West Maternity Services was complete within six months.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health
