Hospital on bypass turns away mum in labour

A young mother in labour was left shocked after being turned away at Rockingham General Hospital last week.

When Charmaine Champion went into labour around 5pm last Tuesday, she headed to Rockingham Hospital and called to warn she was on the way.

“They said they were on bypass and if I went there they wouldn’t take me,” she said.

“It just surprised me that they turned me away. They could have assessed me to see how far I was.”

The 29-year-old was forced to drive an hour to Fiona Stanley Hospital because there was no paediatrician available at Rockingham.

Grandmother Doreen Champion said she was absolutely shocked.

“I can’t believe that in this day and age this sort of thing happens,” she said.

After arriving at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Ms Champion’s baby was born just 55 minutes later.

“Lucky my waters were still intact, otherwise my baby could have been born in the back seat,” Ms Champion said.

In a statement, a South Metropolitan health spokesman said while Rockingham Hospital provided a 24/7 paediatric service, roster gaps can lead to a decision to go on bypass, which is done in the best interest of mothers and babies.

Shadow Health Minister Roger Cook said he could not understand why at 5pm on a weekday a general hospital would not have had a paediatrician on hand.