Wed Sep 25 02:19:53 UTC 2024: ## Peel Health Campus Faces Staffing Crisis, Leaving Expectant Mothers Stranded

**Mandurah, WA** – The beleaguered Peel Health Campus has faced a severe staffing shortage, leading to a situation where expectant mothers were unable to give birth at the hospital last week. The hospital was reportedly placed on code yellow, signifying zero patient capacity, due to a lack of on-call anaesthetists.

While the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS), which manages the campus, denied the code yellow status, they confirmed that women due to give birth were diverted to Rockingham General Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital. The SMHS attributed this to the unavailability of an on-call anaesthetist and emphasized their commitment to patient safety.

However, senior hospital sources painted a grim picture, alleging that the hospital was severely understaffed, with only one midwife present on Wednesday and an obstetrician on call. They also claimed that patients were forced into staff offices due to overcrowding and that the hospital lacked access to computers for an entire week during the transition to public management from Ramsay Health Care.

Despite these claims, the SMHS maintained that they are well equipped to meet the community’s needs. They asserted that operational processes are in place to manage capacity and patient flow, ensuring safe, high-quality care.

The hospital’s struggles come amidst a planned major expansion, announced four years ago, but progress remains unclear. The State Government has committed $152 million to the project, which includes a mental health emergency centre, additional operating theatres, and more than 60 extra inpatient beds. While a tender has been released for construction of a new ring road and related infrastructure, the timeline for the full redevelopment remains uncertain.

The challenges faced by Peel Health Campus highlight the ongoing pressure on regional healthcare facilities and the need for swift action to address staffing shortages and infrastructure deficiencies. The situation also raises concerns about the potential impact on the health and wellbeing of the Mandurah community.

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