WA Government Defends New Women and Babies Hospital Strategy Amid Fresh Criticism Over High-Risk Birth Care

The Western Australian government has unveiled new plans to manage high-risk births at the state’s upcoming Women and Babies Hospital, but the strategy has reignited criticism from medical groups who argue officials are doubling down on what they describe as a flawed decision.

The new hospital is being constructed alongside Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch, approximately 20 kilometres from Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH), where some newborns requiring highly specialized treatment may need to be transferred for care. The location has long been a source of concern for doctors, clinicians, and parents, many of whom have argued that the facility should instead be built on the QEII Medical Centre campus in Nedlands to allow easier access to both Perth Children’s Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

In response to ongoing concerns, the WA government has announced significant upgrades to pediatric services at Fiona Stanley Hospital. The plan includes additional specialist staff, expanded pediatric capabilities, and the establishment of a second Newborn Emergency Transport Service (NETS) base to support infants who require transfer from the new Women and Babies Hospital to Perth Children’s Hospital.

Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the government’s approach was guided by clinical advice, particularly around the importance of rapidly connecting critically ill newborns with NETS teams. She emphasized that these highly specialized transport teams function much like mobile intensive care units, providing vital stabilization and emergency care before and during transfers between hospitals.

According to Hammat, creating a dedicated NETS base in Murdoch will improve the ability to respond quickly to newborn emergencies and ensure babies receive critical support while being transported to specialist treatment facilities when necessary.In response to ongoing concerns, the WA government has announced significant upgrades to pediatric services at Fiona Stanley Hospital. The plan includes additional specialist staff, expanded pediatric capabilities, and the establishment of a second Newborn Emergency Transport Service (NETS) base to support infants who require transfer from the new Women and Babies Hospital to Perth Children’s Hospital.

Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the government’s approach was guided by clinical advice, particularly around the importance of rapidly connecting critically ill newborns with NETS teams. She emphasized that these highly specialized transport teams function much like mobile intensive care units, providing vital stabilization and emergency care before and during transfers between hospitals.

According to Hammat, creating a dedicated NETS base in Murdoch will improve the ability to respond quickly to newborn emergencies and ensure babies receive critical support while being transported to specialist treatment facilities when necessary.

The latest announcement signals the government is firmly committed to its Murdoch-based model, investing in enhanced transport and pediatric services rather than reconsidering the hospital’s location. With construction plans progressing, the debate over how best to provide care for Western Australia’s most vulnerable newborns remains one of the state’s most closely watched health policy issues.