The new Mater Mothers’ Hospitals—another exceptional delivery for Mater Health Services

• Release Date: 30/05/2008
• For media enquiries please contact 07 3163 1524 or the afterhours on call media officer on 07 3163 8111.

Officially opened by Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor of Queensland and blessed by the Most Reverend John A Bathersby DD, Archbishop of Brisbane, the new Mater Mothers’ Hospitals were today unveiled at a ceremony to celebrate this historic event.

Set against the backdrop of the brand new facility, hundreds of guests and dignitaries including The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland, Sisters of Mercy, past and present patients, and Mater staff gathered in the historic Aubigny Place forecourt to acknowledge the procession from the old to the new.

Mater Health Services Chief Executive Officer, Dr John O’Donnell, said the opening of the state-of-the-art facility represents a new era in maternity health care and an important milestone for Queensland.

“Since 1961, Mater Health Services has provided maternity services to the community. Today marks a momentous occasion as we build on this longstanding tradition in providing expanded services to meet the growing needs of our community,” Dr O’Donnell said.

Funded jointly by Queensland Health and Mater Health Services, the new public and private Mater Mothers’ Hospitals form part of a A$188 million major capital upgrade and feature 88 public, 90 private maternity beds and 16 birthing rooms.

“Set to assist in up to 10 000 births each year, the partnership between Mater and Queensland Health has effectively delivered the premier maternity facility in Australia”, Dr O’Donnell said.

“With funding of more than A$127 million from the Queensland Government for the cost of the public facilities and the remaining A$61 million from Mater Health Services for the private components, the new Mater Mothers’ Hospitals will provide integrated tertiary services for women and babies including obstetrics, gynaecology, neonatology, maternal fetal medicine, obstetric medicine, perinatal outreach education and a midwifery group practice.”

Mater has a long history in maternity care, with one in six Queenslanders born in Mater Mothers’ Hospitals.

Director of Perinatal Medicine and Women’s Health Services, Dr Don Cave said the new facility has been designed on a balanced model of wellness and highly specialised care in response to women’s expectations of maternity care.

“As part of our commitment to providing exceptional care, the new facility features a range of services to deliver real benefits to women, along with providing a family-focussed environment in terms of care and support,” he said.

One of the additional services within the new facility will be a Pregnancy Assessment and Observation Unit to be collocated with the birth suite. Managed by Mater Mothers’ midwives, this unit will enable women with pregnancy-related concerns to be reviewed in a setting that is comfortable and inviting. Women will have the ability to access the support of obstetric, midwifery, medical and allied health professionals as required.

An Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit will also be located adjacent to Maternal Fetal Medicine and women with early pregnancy problems will be managed by midwifery and medical staff specifically designated for this purpose.

With women and babies from across Queensland, northern New South Wales and the Pacific region coming for life-saving treatment, Mater Mothers’ Hospitals provide specialist care for severe complications in pregnancy, as well as new-born disorders.

Mater Centre for Maternal Fetal Medicine is at the forefront of developing innovative techniques including ultrasound via telemedicine, first trimester ultrasound screening and fetal laser therapy.

An expanded Neonatal Critical Care Unit will also provide 79 cot spaces including intensive care and special care cots making it one of the biggest Neonatal Critical Care Units in the nation.

Features of the new Mater Mothers’ Hospital and Mater Mothers’ Private Hospital will include:

• an increased number of single rooms with ensuites
• five larger single rooms with disabled access
• external views and natural light, personal baby bathing facilities and ensuites in every room
• a maximum of two women per room
• closer proximity to Mater Adult Hospital Critical Care Unit
• integrated technology to provide more efficient monitoring for high risk women
• a consult room in the antenatal clinic.

Both the public and private services will commence caring for women and babies, their families and carers in the new facilities on Wednesday 4 June 2008.