Get the appCourts have repeatedly declined to override a competent pregnant woman's refusal. This year, the Victorian Supreme Court found that Bendigo Health committed battery and negligence after staff refused to admit Larissa Gawthrop in labour unless she agreed to a vaginal examination she had declined. Providers must obtain informed consent through ongoing, honest discussions covering the treatment, its risks and alternatives.
Parents and health professionals in the Illawarra will confront political leaders about the future of maternity care in the region. A public forum will bring together state representatives, election candidates, and the community to discuss key issues. Concerns include the lack of birthing services at the new Shellharbour Hospital and the slow progress in addressing birth trauma. The event is part of the Birth Without Trauma campaign and will be held on Friday 6 November at the Scribbly Gum Room in Dapto Ribbonwood Centre.
One Nation has proposed a $2,000 baby bonus for new parents in Victoria, a day after Labor and the Liberal Party agreed to cover out-of-pocket costs for abortion care. Deputy leader Colleen Harkin said the plan would cost $136 million over four years, though she called this a ballpark figure. She said One Nation will not touch Victoria's abortion laws. Labor accused One Nation of using abortion as a negotiating chip, while the Coalition said it would match Labor's plan to cover costs and travel.
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Get the appBetter Births Illawarra will hold a community town hall at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on November 6 to press candidates on maternity care reforms. The group says the NSW Government has been slow to act on recommendations from a birth trauma inquiry held two years ago. A parent scorecard found only two of those recommendations had been fully implemented. Labor MPs Ryan Park and Anna Watson are expected to attend. The group says continuity of midwifery care needs urgent action, with access varying widely across the state.
Birthing services are not operating at Gunnedah's redeveloped hospital because of recruitment difficulties, Hunter New England Local Health District has confirmed. Families in the town and surrounding communities must travel elsewhere to give birth. The $53 million redevelopment was unveiled in January. The NSW Nationals and Liberals are calling on the State Labor Government to recruit the staff needed to run the maternity facilities. Shadow Minister for Health Sarah Mitchell said access to maternity services should not depend on where families live.