Mothers-to-be in the New South Wales Riverina town of Deniliquin fear giving birth on the side of the road due to a shortage of midwives.
"During our CLOSED periods if you are unable to get to your back-up hospital, you may present at the Deniliquin Emergency Department for review and transfer to an appropriate hospital," the letter said.
But it's more than 200km from Deniliquin to Griffith, and more than 250km to Wagga Wagga. Echuca is 75km across the border in Victoria."I know women that have had their babies on the roads," she said."I also know people who have hit kangaroos as well. So you can imagine your wife is in labour, your husband or partner has hit a roo, you're on the side of the road and you're stranded."Dr Marion Magee has been a doctor in Deniliquin since 1988.
"It creates a great deal of anxiety and distress, and we know women who are distressed and anxious don't do as well in labour."We are asking women to present to the Emergency Department."The two doctors in town who are obstetricians, we've made a pact that we will come in and manage women if we can't get any midwife staff to help.Dr Magee says the lack of midwives in Deniliquin is not only distressing for patients, but for doctors and nurses too.
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