The state government has been criticised over its reduction of emergency and maternity services across five regional communities, amid a heated industrial dispute with the WA nurses' union.
Information obtained in parliament by Shadow Health Minister Martin Aldridge revealed that the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) had altered the delivery of services across the Wheatbelt, Kimberley, Gascoyne and South West regions.
Since January 2021, health services have been "temporarily reduced" at hospitals in Carnarvon, Narrogin, Wyndham, Bridgetown and Manjimup.
Mr Aldridge said it was not acceptable for hospitals to reduce services and the McGowan Government would not have gotten away with doing so if the hospitals were in the metropolitan area.
WACHS said the decision to reduce services was not taken lightly.
Staff shortages to blame
According to a government response on behalf of Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, the change in services was triggered by staff shortages.
Carnarvon experienced a planned birthing reduction due to having limited obstetric medical staff.
The restriction started in February this year, but the service is yet to be fully restored.
The area has a midwifery group practice, which has continued to offer care to women and their families.
"All women and their escorts who need to be relocated to their preferred site in Geraldton, Karratha or Perth are fully supported and funded," the state government said.
In Narrogin there were short periods of non-emergency birthing reductions that lasted more than a week due to employees on sick leave.
Bridgetown and Warren were also impacted by a 25 per cent reduction in birthing services due to people on annual leave.
The reduction occurred over 16 non-consecutive days across June and July this year.
It is not known how many people were affected.
Wyndham also experienced a reduction to its 24/7 overnight service due to limited nursing staff.
The cut occurred in October last year and an on-call service has filled its place.
Patient safety comes first, WACHS says
WACHS acting executive director of nursing and midwifery Yvonne Bagwell said patient safety was the number one priority.
Ms Bagwell said WACHS worked hard to re-establish birthing services in Narrogin and Bridgetown as soon as possible.
She said it remained safest for expectant families in Carnarvon to deliver in Geraldton.
Ms Bagwell said Geraldton's public facility had to "step-up" when St John of God suspended their medical services.
"On each occasion our staff also worked closely with impacted families to ensure they received the support they needed," she said.
More than 4,200 families have given birth at WACHS facilities in the past 12 months.
Mr Aldridge said disrupting and displacing families during a stressful time was not appropriate.
"What we're effectively doing is telling expectant mothers that they need to become FIFO and fly out of their community," Mr Aldridge said.
He called for the full restoration of services and hoped there would be no further reduction of medical facilities in the regions.
It comes amid a bitter industrial dispute between the state government and the Australian Nursing Federation.
The union is threatening to strike on Friday unless its five per cent pay rise demands are met.
