Hospital changes deliver birthing pains to new mums
BREAKING: New mothers and palliative care patients at Stanthorpe Hospital will be moved into the hospital's acute ward this week.
The hospital's western annexe, where new mothers, palliative care and long-stay patients are cared for, will be temporarily amalgamated with the acute ward.
Director of Nursing Jan Faulconbridge said the amalgamation would not be permanent and the western annexe would not be closing.
"The annexe contains the hospital's birthing suites and is usually the area where new mothers, palliative care and maintenance (long-stay) patients are accommodated," she said.
"During times of low activity across the entire hospital, these patients will be temporarily accommodated in the hospital's main building."
According to Ms Faulconbridge, the amalgamation would allow for increased efficiencies in the hospital.
"The temporary amalgamation of wards is not a new idea and it has occurred in previous years at the Stanthorpe Hospital," she said.
Despite concerns in the community about the impact on staffing and care levels, Ms Faulconbridge said no permanent staff would be affected by the change.
"Hospital staff will ensure that when patients are accommodated in the main area of the hospital, they will be provided with care appropriate to their clinical needs," she said.
It's unclear when the western annexe would be fully operational again.
