A mother’s emotional journey where she was separated from her family and friends after a complex birth has highlighted the need for a Special Care Nursery at Wonthaggi Hospital.
Joanne Duscher’s newborn son Brayden was transferred to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Monash Health Clayton after he was born by an emergency Caesarean at Wonthaggi Hospital at 34 weeks. He stayed there for 11 days to assist with his breathing, with his mother and father Glenn staying in hospital and then at Ronald McDonald House. Brayden was then transferred to Warragul Hospital’s Special Care Nursery, where he stayed for 16 days, with his parents by his side.
“Having a special care nursery at Wonthaggi Hospital will be amazing for local families within the area as this would relieve the stress - at an already stressful time - of having to be living away from home for a substantial amount of time,” she said.
“It would also relieve the financial stress that comes with living away from home, and allow families to care for other siblings and family members, and allow family and friends’ support to be close by.”
Joanne spoke about her experience at the Indulgence Raffle fundraiser held by three local businesses recently: Headlines Hairdressing, The Cape Tavern, and Revive Beauty and Spa.
The fundraising event, which culminated in an event at Inverloch’s Inlet Hotel, raised $20,771 for the Special Care Nursery at Wonthaggi Hospital, which is scheduled to open in April 2024.
The nursery will enable Wonthaggi Hospital to offer a Level 4 Maternity Service, which will allow mothers to give birth at Wonthaggi from 34 weeks onwards. Currently these mothers need to travel to other hospitals to give birth due to the higher level of care required.
A Level 4 service would enable the 200 plus women who are more complex, or whose babies are more complex, the choice to give birth at Wonthaggi Hospital, said Bass Coast Health (BCH) CEO Jan Child.
“This higher-level maternity service reflects what we are all about at Bass Coast Health: providing more healthcare services to local people, closer to their homes and support networks, rather than them having to leave their communities to receive care in Melbourne or elsewhere in Gippsland,” she said.
“We are so grateful to people like Joanne for sharing their story and to our local businesses, Melissa Stirton of Headlines Hairdressing, Alison Adams of Revive Beauty and Spa, and Michael Turton of The Cape Tavern, who do so much to support the growth of services in the Bass Coast Shire – their support is extraordinary!”
The Indulgence Raffle featured three main prizes:
• a year of massages valued at $1380 from Revive Beauty and Spa (winner Ashley Cuttris)
• a Headlines Hairdressing gift certificate worth $500 and a luxury hair hamper valued at more than $1200 (winner Steven and Sathi)
• from Cape Tavern, a luxury weekend away at Avoca Winery worth more than $1200 (winner Hayley Mitchell).
More than 900 tickets were sold for these prizes and further tickets were sold for additional prizes at the Inlet Hotel.
“It was amazing to receive such great support. Everyone is happy to put something towards the community and babies, which the Special Care Nursery will do,” Melissa said.
“Thank you to everyone for the support and for believing in us.”