Dear
Denise
The birth centre @
Bulli hospital was open for 3-4 years, worked fine, but there was NO backup at
all other than the local GP's who were fine.The Illawarra Area Health Service
used the same arguments they put forward as they used for the proposed closure
of Shellharbour Mat Unit in the very late 90's. Probably we were not as
"politically" savvy as those wonderful midwives. I have found out in the last
year or so that there were several legal cases pending against the unit there
with the potential to cost mega bucks. If I was a cynical person I would
be happy to believe that as the primary reason for transferring the BC to
Wollongong Hospital.
We transferred there
in early 1991 and the BC plodded on, staffed by "those Bulli midwives"
for a few years. With the advent of a new pusher and shaker in charge of
the Mid Unit, the divide and conquer rule worked very well and most of us were
transferred out of the BC to other areas of the Mid Unit. The BC was then
staffed by midwives transferred from and under the direct CONTROL of the NUM of
the labour ward Wilma Thorne. I understand that the BC closed
after about 8 years in Wollongong.
It no longer
hurts my heart, but I still see some of the wonderful mothers we dealt
with, and they are still mourning.
I am now in the
private sector, coordinating a pregnancy and early childhood program (with 5
other midwives) for the Australian Health Management Group of health funds, and
also for Lysaghts Peoplecare and Defence Health.
Re the BC's in
Sydney, sorry I cannot help with info of their staffing.
Take
care Judy
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Name:
Judy Giesaitis
Position: Program
Coordinator
Department: CareLink
Company: Australian
Health Management Group
Address:
Locked Bag 3
WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
Phone:
1800.65.33.16
Fax:
02.4227.1678
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
