Arabic version: عودة خدمات الولادة إلى بيلويلا وكوكتاون

According to ABC News, expectant mothers in regional Queensland can again give birth closer to home after birthing services returned to Biloela and Cooktown on Monday.

The reopening in Biloela follows nearly three years of advocacy by local mother Katie Craig, whose son Dougy was born at 27 weeks, about 12 weeks before full term. He was among the last children born in Biloela Hospital’s birthing unit before it closed in 2022. Craig said she feared she and her son could have faced serious risk if she had needed to travel to Rockhampton or Gladstone while in spontaneous labour.

Biloela and Cooktown communities had been without maternal care after the services were shut down or placed on bypass four years ago. Craig said local care helped mothers feel safe during pregnancy and allowed them to remain close to their support networks.

The reopened Biloela unit will provide level two services, compared with level three services before its closure, meaning it cannot treat complex or emergency pregnancies. Australian Medical Association Queensland president Erica Gannon said more than half of pregnancy complications could not be diagnosed or predicted in advance, and warned that transferring patients while they are in labour was high risk.

Craig welcomed the service’s return and said she hoped workforce recruitment would eventually allow more mothers to give birth safely in Biloela. Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Lisa Blackler said attracting midwives and specialist staff to rural communities was challenging, but the service had worked hard to recruit support and sustain the reopening.