Frantic midwife had 12 women plus babies to look after at once
A WOMAN gave birth alone in a Queensland hospital bed as an overworked midwife struggled to look after 12 women in one shift.
“The midwife at Gladstone Hospital managed to rush into the ward just in time to catch the baby with her bare hands, but no midwife was with the patient as she gave birth,” Nurses Professional Association of Queensland’s Jack McGuire told The Sunday Mail.
“This happened in the last few weeks, and is just one example of the critical understaffing at the hospital which is booming due the shutting down of surrounding maternity units and since the recent closure of Gladstone Mater private hospital’s maternity services.
“We need a regulator with teeth that will ensure that staff on the frontline are listened to by management.”
Maternity services in regional Queensland are stretched to the limit.
Welcome Margaret, new branch secretary at The Prince Charles Hospital
Margaret Gilbert is a Duty Nurse Manager at The Prince Charles Hospital and has been in this position since 2007. She works within a cohesive team of five providing operational management as well as coordinating patient flow at TPCH over the 24hour continuum.