Epworth HealthCare group chief executive Dr Lachlan Henderson said workforce shortages across the maternity healthcare industry meant it could no longer offer the service.
“Workforce shortages in nursing and midwifery are being experienced globally, and throughout Australia and our repeated, extensive efforts to recruit midwifery staff at the Epworth Geelong Maternity unit has met with limited success,” Dr Henderson said.
“A high quality service requires a minimum number of skilled and competent midwifery, nursing, allied health and specialist medical practitioners, across a 24-hour, seven day per week period.
“We have made the difficult announcement of our proposed closure. After consultation is complete, if a decision is made to close, the closure of our Epworth Geelong Maternity service is anticipated to occur on 1 March 2023.
“Everyone who works in our Epworth Geelong maternity unit has shown an amazing dedication to this service. We are incredibly proud of our midwives, specialists and maternity support staff who have provided exceptional care to families in the Geelong region since the service commenced in 2017.
“We are working with our obstetricians to contact all booked maternity patients. To assist, we have established a dedicated Epworth Geelong Maternity concierge service.”
Booked patients can call 9426 0622 from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday to discuss their individual circumstances.
