News - Bega Merimbula Eden Bermagui Tathra Pambula

The Member for Bega Andrew Constance will be approaching the Health Care Complaints Commission in relation to recent reports about Eden mother Melissa Seymour.

“I want to place on the public record that Melissa Seymour’s concerns are in no way reflective on the professionalism and care given to her by the midwives and the medical staff at Bega Hospital.

“What is at the heart of this is the lack of facilities for birthing mothers and safety issues,” Mr Constance said.

“It is unacceptable that with the closure of maternity beds at Pambula that there has not been an expansion of the maternity suites at Bega Hospital.

“This means new mums are being allocated surgical ward beds and in the case of Melissa she was left in an unenviable situation of having to leave her new born in the ward unattended whilst she walked down a corridor to access shower and toilet facilities.

This is unacceptable and is no way reflective on the staff at the hospital, but the lack of appropriate facilities that is being provided by the Labor Government,” Mr Constance said “Melissa’s concern relates to the safety of her new born and the fact that the toilet facilities were filthy,” Mr Constance said.

“Whilst the Health Service is investigating itself into this matter I believe it important that the HCCC, who are independent of the health service also look into this.

“Melissa’s concerns are legitimate and whilst some clarification has been given by the Health Service it in no way diminishes the important issues that Melissa has brought forward,” Mr Constance said.