The Nationals’ Member for Euroa and Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Annabelle Cleeland, has called on the State Government to restore birthing services at Benalla Health, raising the issue in Parliament this week.
Benalla, home to around 14,000 people, is now one of the largest towns in regional Victoria without a functioning maternity service.
Last year, Benalla Health paused birthing, assuring the community it would resume once GP obstetricians were recruited. Instead, the service was downgraded to Level One capability, the lowest category, which provides only antenatal and postnatal support.
“Level One maternity might suit a small town like Casterton or Myrtleford, but it is completely inadequate for Benalla,” Ms Cleeland said.
“For an electorate spanning 12,500 square kilometres, this government should be ashamed that women have so little support to labour safely at their local hospital.
“Families in my community are now faced with fragmented care, appointments spread across multiple locations, long travel times, and enormous stress at a time when continuity of care is critical.”
Ms Cleeland said the collapse of regional maternity services was having broader impacts, with Kilmore’s service frequently on bypass, rising numbers of “births before arrival,” and growing demand for Ronald McDonald House as regional women are forced to leave home weeks before their due date.
“What we know is when we lose maternity, we lose other skilled services like anaesthetists. The flow-on effect is devastating for small hospitals,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The women and families of Benalla deserve the same standard of care as families in Mansfield or Echuca. They deserve it now, not after another review.
“The Minister must step in and restore birthing through a midwifery group practice model.