The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) celebrates the return of birthing services to Cooktown, enabling more women and families to have their babies safely, closer to home.
The College particularly welcomes the Rural Generalist-led model established in Cooktown, which draws on the successful restoration of birthing services in Weipa in 2024.
College Board Director and Medical Director of Maternity Services for Cape York Dr John Hall helped lead the restoration of birthing services in both communities.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says the experience in Weipa demonstrates what can be achieved when Rural Generalists and multidisciplinary healthcare teams work together to provide safe, sustainable maternity care.
“We have seen in Weipa what bringing birthing back to a rural community can mean for women, families, and the broader health service,” Dr Martin says.
“Cooktown builds on that success, with obstetric-trained and anaesthetic-trained Rural Generalists working alongside midwives, nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals, and other clinicians.”
Dr Martin says a Rural Generalist workforce also gives a rural hospital capability well beyond maternity care.
“Rural Generalists work across general practice, emergency, and hospital care, and bring advanced skills in areas including obstetrics, anaesthetics, and paediatrics,” he says.
“When that capability is built locally, it strengthens the entire health service and increases the care that can safely be provided close to home. This is a robust model that demonstrates that closed maternity services need not be closed forever.
“Rural communities should not automatically have to accept travelling hundreds of kilometres for healthcare that can be safely and sustainably delivered locally.”
Dr Hall says this an important and exciting milestone for Cooktown and surrounding communities, and it reflects the determination and hard work of many people
He acknowledges the leadership of Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Director of Medical Services Eastern Dr Natasha Coventry and Director of Midwifery Michelle O’Connor in bringing birthing back to Cooktown.
“Natasha and Michelle have provided exceptional leadership, working with the local team to build the workforce, clinical capability, and systems needed to restore a safe and sustainable service.
“This achievement belongs to the whole multidisciplinary team and the community members who have continued to advocate for local birthing.”