The reopening of Whyalla Hospital and Health Service’s birthing unit has received a positive reaction from across the state.
Whyalla City Council says it’s wonderful news, and the highly-anticipated return will improve the mental and physical wellbeing of expectant parents.
The Opposition has also welcomed the news, saying they’ve been calling on the Malinauskas Government to address the issue for a year.
Shadow Minister for Regional Health Services Penny Pratt says families can now breathe a sigh of relief.
“While we are pleased to see the birthing services return to Whyalla, Peter Malinauskas must ensure we don’t see further disruptions like this in our regions by addressing workforce challenges,” Minister Pratt says.
Health Minister Chris Picton says the State Government was determined to get the service back up and running.
“Around the country, so often when you see birthing services suspended, they never recover, Minister Picton says.
“We were determined with Whyalla – which suffered this suspension because of a lack of midwives in the area – that we work as hard as possible to make sure that these services come back because Whyalla is such a key regional centre of South Australia.”
