Newly released figures show there were an astounding 329 maternity bypasses in WA hospitals over the 12 months to November 2022.
The last-minute moves for mothers from the hospital of their choice reveal the true extent of the capacity issues across the health system, according to Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam.
“These figures will have many women who are pregnant now wondering just where they might end up having their baby ,” Ms Mettam said.
“These women are being put in this position because the McGowan Government has dragged its feet on the recruitment of midwives and nurses in WA hospitals, putting hospitals under pressure and pregnant women and their babies at risk.
Ms Mettam said the figures also highlighted the ongoing significant challenge frontline health workers and managers faced trying to manage the dire shortage of beds.
“In the 12 months to July 2022, there were 311 maternity bypasses, which shows the McGowan Government has made absolutely no progress in alleviating this distressing issue for WA women and their families,” she said.
“Earlier this month, figures from the AMA showed that 7 of the 10 worst performing public hospital emergency departments in Australia were in WA; what a damning indictment on the McGowan’s management of the health system.
“There is no way the Premier and Health Minister can spin their way out of this and they have no one else to blame for their failure to properly resource our health system.”