In Victoria, an additional 1423 births are expected between April and August this year, compared to the same period in 2020.
Echuca Regional Health is expected to see 32 per cent more births, coming in behind Western District Health with a 51 per cent increase, Bendigo Health (43 per cent), Ballarat Health (38 per cent) and Kilmore (34 per cent).
The increase in birthing numbers has been linked to the extended coronavirus restrictions in place across the state last year.
ERH maternity nurse unit manager Amanda Murphy said they had seen a steady increase in birthing numbers, with 429 babies born in the 2020-21 financial year compared to 395 in the 2019-20 financial year.
“We are currently ahead of numbers from this time last year and project to increase again on last year,” she said.
“ERH draws from a large catchment area and with changes in services to surrounding hospitals, we have found we are seeing an increase in presentations from areas outside Echuca-Moama.”
To meet the growing demand on public maternity services, the Victorian Government has announced a $13.2 million boost to bolster the midwifery workforce.
The equivalent of an extra 175 staff will be funded across the state to help relieve pressure for busy midwives at 38 health services across Victoria.
The package also includes funding for increased frontline care on priority shifts such as night duty and to improve rostering across the system.
“The pandemic has had a lasting impact across Australia, including an unexpected increase in birthing activity that is delivering a one-off surge in demand on our maternity services,” Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said.
“Our dedicated midwives are some of the hardest working in the country and this investment in the maternity workforce reinforces that we will always back them and the extraordinary work they do.”
ERH’s maternity unit has 28 midwives working on the ward and another two on maternity leave.
“In addition, there are three midwives on nurse bank who may assist during busy times,” Ms Murphy said.
“We have two midwifery students enrolled in the post-graduate diploma midwifery course through La Trobe University and who complete their clinical experience with us.
“We are looking at opportunities to increase this to three midwifery students as this is a wonderful program for ERH.”
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