The NSW Opposition has called for maternity services to be reinstated at Muswellbrook Hospital in next week's budget.
The Opposition highlighted that Health Minister Ryan Park promised a maternity action plan would be in place by the end of last year.
Shadow minister for health and regional health Sarah Mitchell said "women in the Upper Hunter are still being forced to drive to Maitland or Newcastle to have their babies."
"Fifteen months is more than enough time to deliver a plan, but all we've had is silence," Mrs Mitchell said.
"This budget is Ryan Park's chance to back up his promise with real funding and staffing solutions to fix the maternity crisis in Muswellbrook."
Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell said "we need to be able to deliver babies at Muswellbrook".
"It's important to people, including the Indigenous community because they want to birth on Country," Mr Layzell said.
"As a father of four, I know how important it is to have great maternity services available locally."
Health Minister Ryan Park said "the list of maternity services suspended or closed completely by the Liberals and Nationals is significant".
Mr Park said this included "the service at Muswellbrook, which was closed by the former Coalition government in 2022".
"In contrast, the Minns Labor government is increasing access to midwifery continuity of care models across the state, especially in regional and rural areas."
Mr Park said the government would spend $44.8 million on maternity care in the 2025-26 state budget.
He said this included "increased access to midwifery continuity of care models, including funding for an additional 53 full-time equivalent midwives in regional NSW".
Mr Layzell, a National Party MP, said "the key to all this is the GP obstetricians".
"We can't seem to be able to retain, train or attract them to country areas," he said.
"It's a worry because obstetricians are not coming through the system."
Mr Layzell said Muswellbrook's GP obstetrician retired a few years ago.
"We did a worldwide search. We got two applications, but they didn't come to fruition," he said.
"I can see we're heading towards a future where you will not be able to have a baby in the Upper Hunter, unless we do something radical to change what we're doing."
Mother Chloe Boyle was part of the Mothers of Muswellbrook group, which campaigned in 2024-25 to reopen the hospital's maternity ward.
Their change.org petition, which attracted more than 1800 signatures, called for an obstetrician, local birthing options, a midwifery group practice and publicly-funded home births.
"At Muswellbrook, we put so much money into the economy and we are given the bare minimum. It's frustrating," Mrs Boyle said.
"We deserve a maternity ward. I'd love to see something done. We're in dire straits."
Mrs Boyle gave birth to son Harvey in a toilet cubicle at Muswellbrook Hospital in 2022.
She had planned to give birth to Harvey at Singleton Hospital, but her labour happened quickly.
Women in Muswellbrook can give birth at Scone or Singleton. Those who need a higher level of care can give birth at Maitland or John Hunter hospitals.
Mr Layzell said Singleton still had a few obstetricians, but there were concerns about the future.
Staff at Singleton are seeking maternity care improvements, such as expanded theatre access and extra staff.
