Portland, Victoria hospital: Inside rural towns healthcare hell

A remote town in Victoria’s southwest is in the midst of a healthcare crisis as facilities at its only birthing suite remain suspended.

Portland, located 350km from Melbourne, had its maternity services suspended in March due to a midwife shortage.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said the region shows the level of pressure the state’s health system remains under.

“There’s no doubt that there is a crisis in our health service across the state, but here in Portland, it is certainly more acute,” Mr Guy said.

“There needs to be a serious report of the system. The government is clearly not paying attention to the Portland Hospital.”

“What’s going to fix it is listening to staff, locals and the board, bringing back birthing services, bringing back some of the doctors who have been lost and actually getting this hospital working for the community.”

South West Coast Liberal MP Roma Britnell said the closure was stopping dozens of women in the area from having access to fundamental healthcare services.

“The people of Portland just want to be heard; they’re losing fundamental services including the right the give birth in their own town safely,” she said.

“There’s 15,000 people in the catchment of Portland and all they’re asking for is some basic fundamental care that we all deserve.

“You would not see this happen to people in Melbourne; this is just wrong.”

Portland District Health suspended birthing services in March, saying it would review the situation every six weeks as the hospital desperately tried to recruit more staff.

However, Health Minister Martin Foley said at the time of the initial suspension the situation showed the hospital was just facing a “temporary set of challenges”.

“What we’re facing, as the board made clear, and the hospital’s made clear, is a very temporary set of challenges when it comes to midwives being available,” he said.

“First and foremost, every decision is made on what’s clinically safe, including the practice.

“There is a temporary shortage of midwives, and that’s disproportionately the case in regional rural communities.

“I know the team is working really hard to fill vacancies, and this will be reviewed every six weeks.”

The Victorian Department of Health and Portland District Health have been contacted for comment.

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