A consumer survey undertaken in 2022 of women who have used Longreach Hospital’s maternity service shows continuing high levels of satisfaction with the maternity service.
Longreach Hospital Senior Medical Officer Dr Kirsty Symmons said the survey received 60 responses covering 61 individual births and 62 babies.
“We had our first maternity survey in 2019 and had planned to conduct a follow-up survey in 2021 but delayed this to 2022 due to the pandemic,’’ she said.
“We have now worked through the 2022 survey and have some results to share.’’
Out of the women who responded to the survey, 70 per cent had their baby at Longreach and 30 per cent had their baby away.
“Around 95 per cent of women who delivered their babies at Longreach said they would deliver in Longreach again and recommend it to others, the consumer survey showed,’’ Dr Symmons said.
“This was increase on the 90 per cent satisfaction rate recorded in the last maternity survey we conducted in 2019.’’
“Around 90.5 per cent of the women who birthed are Longreach also agreed their birth preferences were well supported, which was an increase on the 85 per cent who agreed with this in the 2019 survey.’’
Dr Symmons said the most common reason for birthing at Longreach – given by 85 per cent of women who had their baby at Longreach – was to be closer to home.
Telehealth also proved a winner with women.
“In the 2019 survey, telehealth was identified as an important vehicle for delivering individualised care to women,’’ Dr Symmons said.
“Only 6.3 per cent of respondents received care by telehealth in 2019 but we have worked hard since then to expand the availability of telehealth for those women who want to use it and it is safe for them to do so.
“As a result, the 2022 survey showed the percentage of survey respondents using telehealth had increased to 23.3 per cent.
“In addition, about 92.9 per cent of respondents who used telehealth indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with their appointments, with the convenience of not having to travel being one of the main reasons.
“We will continue to offer telehealth as an option for appointments for women when it is preferred by them and safe to do so.’’
Satisfaction was also high with the Longreach Hospital birthing suite and maternity ward, with 93.2 per cent of women who birthed their saying they were satisfied or very satisfied.
The Longreach Hospital maternity unit offers three single ensuite rooms, a birth suite, a maternity assessment room, a baby assessment room, and an equipment room.
There is also a lounge area with a kitchenette to support visiting families.
Longreach Hospital Director of Child, Youth and Family Services Amanda Hackett said the three single rooms on the maternity ward were big rooms with an ensuite and also an area where mums can bathe their babies.
“The birthing suite importantly allows space for family to be with a woman and the birthing team during the birth of a baby if they choose,’’ she said.
“In the 2019 survey, 21.4 per cent of replies regarding the maternity unit advised making it less clinical and adding some homely touches.
“Since then, the staff have worked to improve this aspect of the maternity unit.
“In the 2022 survey, several women specifically noted that it didn’t feel medical and a significant number of women commented on the attractive and comfortable environment.’’
Dr Symmons said on-site accommodation was available at no cost at Longreach Hospital for women in the lead-up to giving birth from 37 weeks onwards.
“This is particularly convenient for women who live away from Longreach,’’ she said. “About 36.7 per cent of the women who responded to our 2022 survey stayed in our accommodation and 81.8 per cent of them said having free accommodation contributed a great deal to their decision to birth at Longreach.
“About 91 per cent also said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of accommodation provided.’’
Dr Symmons said 80.4 per cent of women who responded to the 2022 survey were satisfied or very satisfied with their care after leaving hospital and 7.1 per cent were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.
“This compares well with the 2019 survey where 77.4 per cent of women were satisfied of very satisfied with their after-hospital care and 10.8 per cent dissatisfied or very dissatisfied,’’ she said.
Ms Hackett said the results of the survey would be used to develop future enhancements to the maternity service.
“We appreciate the time and effort of all the women who gave their feedback and are in the process of implementing multiple improvements to the service in response,’’ Ms Hackett said.
Ms Hackett said between 60–70 babies a year, on average, were born at Longreach Hospital, with 68 in 2023.
“We also provide antenatal care for about 100 women a year through our maternity service,’’ she said.
“For a woman who lives out of Longreach, her midwife will liaise with the local midwifery staff in her community.
“In the Central West, maternity care providers include midwives providing care via a continuity of care midwifery group practice model, GP obstetricians, and the allied health care team, with ongoing follow up and referral to child health services.
“Women also have the options of shared care with their regular GP.’’