Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS) is in the throes of planning a new birthing centre at its main campus thanks to its success in a funding application of $545,00 from the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, which will see the hospital’s current birthing suites relocated to its former Fraser Ward.

The Regional Health Infrastructure Fund is designed to improve health services and agencies in rural and regional Victoria – the funding is available to expand capacity, improve safety, quality and efficiency and deliver better care to patients no matter where they live.

“This will be an exciting project for BRHS and will most certainly improve health services for the mothers and families of our community,” BRHS acting chief executive officer, Bernadette Hammond, said.

Fraser Ward was amalgamated with Tambo Ward, becoming the new Tambo Ward as a four-bed high dependency unit boasting specialist physicians and daily Telehealth access (as needed) with video consultations with specialists located in Melbourne hospitals.

Ms Hammond said the prime space, which has been vacant for some time, caught the eye of many within the hospital.

“But our priority here is to establish birthing suites that are closer to the surgical theatres, and in doing so provide more conducive safe and affective care,” she said.

With the current birthing suites located a floor above, any surgical requirements mean birthing mothers are transported through the hospital hallways to get to theatre.

“Having the birthing suites closer to theatre will be much more private and respectful,” Ms Hammond said.

“It’s a model that’s very family-centred. The new suites will allow us to encourage mothers and their babies to stay in the birthing room for 24 hours, and if they’re ready, leave straight from there to head home.

“If they require more time here they would be transferred to the maternity ward and nursery upstairs.

“What we want to provide is a nice space for mothers to birth, and keeping mother and baby together to allow early bonding.”

With their comfortable space and en suite facilities, Ms Hammond said the current birthing suites are expected to become postnatal rooms.

“We’re looking to make the whole process much nicer,” she said.

“The former suites may also be used for child birth education and clinics with visiting and specialist obstetricians. We are very much about local services and it can be very disruptive for a family if they need to travel to Melbourne for various services.”

Ms Hammond said the plans for the new birthing centre are “very exciting”.

“Over the last three to four years we’ve changed our model and developed a more community-based one, with maternity nurses out in the community and a focus on the wellness rather than sickness. Child birth is a natural phenomenon; birthing women are not ill, they are having a baby,” she said.

“With this new birthing centre we will continue to strengthen the community based approach to the health and wellbeing of mothering, birth and the early days of a child’s life.”

A working group is currently being established to progress the building works necessary for the refurbishment of the ward. The new centre’s construction is expected to go to tender in June with building works to commence by the end of the year.