Bourke facing midwives shortage
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Pregnant women in Bourke and surrounding towns could be sent to Dubbo to have their babies delivered because of a shortage of midwives.
The maternity unit at the Bourke Hospital has been reduced to a part-time service after the resignation of a midwife.
The hospital now has two midwives, one of which is about to go on maternity leave.
However, the general manager of the health service's Mitchell cluster, Steve Evans, says the service will be maintained.
"The safety of mothers and babies is our key priority and when patients do present they will be assessed by an obstetrician, GP obstetricians and depending on whether there's a midwife available will depend whether they can deliver in Bourke," he said.
"Generally the mums would go to Dubbo to deliver, but that would depend on the GP obstetrician on call that day."
He says the service is attempting to recruit two midwives so a full-time service can be reinstated.
"We've put out expression of interest though our state-wide nursing and midwifery networks to midwives to come and work in Bourke," he said.
"We're also in the process of advertising and we're also looking for agency staff to come and work in Bourke ... like a locum service."
