A highly skilled team of four specialist rural doctors with qualifications and experience in obstetrics are working together, continuing to deliver babies at the Naracoorte Hospital.

They include Dr Kim Trueman, Dr Clare Garner, Dr David Mills and Dr Ron Wallingford.

The good news for obstetrics was released in statements by the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) as well as the Naracoorte General Practice and Kincraig Medical Clinic.

“Naracoorte Health Service’s maternity and obstetric services have had no interruption to service and is well staffed by obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives, nurses and clinicians,” LCLHN director medical services Dr Abhary said.

“All our midwives and GP obstetricians have training specifically designed to manage different types of births.

“We had 150 babies safely born at the hospital in the 2023- 2024 financial year and look forward to continuing our care for all local mothers before, during and after childbirth.”

It is a maternity service that has continued for almost 145 years. The first Naracoorte Hospital was built in 1880, providing a safe place for mothers to have babies along with general care.

As “background” the LCLHN said Dr Jeff Taylor had previously provided GP services to the Naracoorte Health Service “under formal arrangements between our health network and the Kincraig Medical Clinic (KMC)”

“Under this type of arrangement GPs are not directly employed by SA Health.”

Doctors from both the Naracoorte General Practice and the Kincraig Medical Centre are working together, ensuring babies continue to be delivered safely at Naracoorte.

“This follows on from concerns raised by the public about what will happen to obstetric and medical services going forward,” Kincraig Medical Clinic senior partner Dr Brian Norcock said.

“The community can be reassured that obstetric services will continue to be provided by Dr Kim Trueman, Dr David Mills, Dr Clare Garner and Dr Ron Wallingford.”

In other good news for Naracoorte, Dr Norcock said several doctors have shown interest in coming to Naracoorte next year.

“That raises the possibility that local doctors may be able to once again become more involved in the accident and emergency roster and hospital inpatient care,” Dr Norcock said. As a result, that would enable the two medical practices to “consolidate and continue the important role of training the next generation of young doctors”.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte News.