Maternity services updates

Birth Suite and Maternity Unit visitors

• Visiting hours are from 11.00am to 8.00pm daily. Partners may visit from 7.00 am to 8.00pm. 
• Do not visit the hospital if you have COVID-like symptoms or acute respiratory infection symptoms (even if you have a negative RAT).
• Do not visit until it has been seven days since you were diagnosed with COVID or classified as a close contact.
• Up to two people (no children) can attend the Birth Suite (no swapping out).
• For Special Care Nursery visitor restrictions, please speak to a midwife.

More information on visitor restrictions at the hospital.

Transfers to another hospital for maternity care

St John of God Midland Public Hospital is currently experiencing both a midwifery workforce shortage and a high demand on its maternity services. The midwife shortage is an Australian-wide issue.

The hospital has implemented several arrangements to ensure patients continue to receive high quality maternity care. 

These arrangements make the best use of the network of hospitals across Perth by transferring some patients' care to alternative maternity services to ensure every woman is cared for safely and appropriately.

Patients will be directly informed if they will be transferred to another hospital.

Maternity bypass 

Pregnancy and birth can be unpredictable, and the number of women needing care varies each day. To ensure every woman receives safe, timely care, all WA metropolitan public hospitals use a process called Maternity Bypass. This is activated when a hospital experiences unusually high demand and cannot safely accept more women. When this happens, you may be directed to another maternity hospital with available capacity.

Maternity Bypass is activated with the safety of women and babies as the highest priority, in consultation with the WA Health Department’s State Health Operations Centre. If your care needs to be transferred, planning will occur with you, your support people, your caregivers at St John of God Midland Public Hospital, and the receiving hospital. Transfer will only occur when it is considered safe.

What Happens if Maternity Bypass Is Activated:

• Call the midwife at St John of God Midland Public Hospital as discussed during your antenatal appointments.
• If Maternity Bypass is active, you may be advised to attend a different maternity hospital that can provide the best support for your needs.
• Once a receiving hospital accepts your care, the St John of God midwife will tell you where to go and provide contact details for the new site you will attend.
• Your medical records will be sent to the receiving hospital. Please take your Pregnancy Handheld Records with you.
• If you are already admitted, transfer will occur by ambulance at no cost to you.
• If you are at home, and it is safe, you may be advised to make your own way to the receiving hospital.

After the Bypass Period

We will remain in contact with the receiving hospital and, when capacity allows, discuss whether you would like to return to our care.
Our midwives will continue to provide follow‑up care after your baby is born, ensuring continuity and support.

Direction to other public hospital maternity units  

The alternative maternity hospitals listed below are all located within the Perth metropolitan area. Please click on the relevant hospital names to get respective directions via Google Maps.

Armadale Health Service
3056 Albany Highway, Mt Nasura
Antenatal Assessment Unit, Level 1
Triage midwife: 08 9391 2947
 
Fiona Stanley Hospital
102 – 118 Murdoch Drive, Murdoch
Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit, 
Level 3 (access via the blue lifts on the main concourse)
Triage midwife: 08 6152 8853

Joondalup Health Campus
Corner Grant Boulevard and Shenton Avenue, Joondalup 
Switchboard: 08 9400 9400

King Edward Memorial Hospital
Bagot Road, Subiaco
Level 1, B Block
Triage midwife: 08 6458 2199
  
Osborne Park Hospital
Osborne Place, Stirling
A Block
Midwife Coordinator: 08 6457 8021