Tran said the hospital already had significant maternity and newborn facilities.
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“The hospital currently provides modern birthing suites, a dedicated operating theatre, single-room maternity wards and the State’s only private Neonatal Intensive Care Unit caring for babies born from 30 weeks gestation,” she said.
“St John of God Subiaco Hospital remains committed to maintaining its position as a centre of maternity excellence and will continue to invest in these areas to ensure the highest standards of safety, quality and comfort for patients and families.”
St John of God has been consolidating its maternity services in WA since 2023 following the decision to close the birthing unit at Mount Lawley in 2023 and last year’s decision to close the birthing centre at Bunbury Hospital.
The organisation cited a chronic shortage of employed midwives and decreasing availability of obstetricians, GP-obstetricians and paediatricians for both closures.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat said it was vital WA had a sustainable and enduring private hospital system.
“We know this is a challenge facing private hospital providers across all states and territories,” she said.
“We are focused on ensuring that all women have access to the maternity care they need.
“I know the Federal Government has been exploring options to address these challenges and we’ll work with them where we can to ensure the sector meets the needs of Western Australians.”
Health Consumers’ Council executive director Clare Mullen said the council would like to see private and public health service providers working together to put consumer interests at the centre of development plans to ensure there is a range of birthing and neonatal care options for WA families.
The revelation comes as the WA government continues canvassing the feasibility of a new maternity hospital at the Queen Elizabeth II site in Nedlands, which would deliver up to 2000 babies each year, despite the idea being routinely dismissed by the WA Labor government ahead of the most recent state election.
9News Perth and WAtoday have seen documents showing the North Metropolitan Health Service has canvassed the proposal, which would mitigate risks posed by the state government’s chosen location for its $1.8 billion women and babies hospital site in Murdoch.
However, Hammat was adamant there was no plan to build a maternity hospital in Nedlands.
“There has been some targeted discussions to ensure that we have appropriate services if they’re necessary in a central location. That consideration is ongoing,” she said.