Tran said the hospital already had significant maternity and newborn facilities.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe hospital currently provides modern birthing suites, a dedicated operating theatre, single-room maternity wards and the State\u2019s only private Neonatal Intensive Care Unit caring for babies born from 30 weeks gestation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s decision to close the birthing centre at Bunbury Hospital.<\/p>\n
The organisation cited a chronic shortage of employed midwives and decreasing availability of obstetricians, GP-obstetricians and paediatricians for both closures.<\/p>\n
Health Minister Meredith Hammat said it was vital WA had a sustainable and enduring private hospital system.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know this is a challenge facing private hospital providers across all states and territories,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are focused on ensuring that all women have access to the maternity care they need.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the Federal Government has been exploring options to address these challenges and we\u2019ll work with them where we can to ensure the sector meets the needs of Western Australians.\u201d<\/p>\n
Health Consumers\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n