The Terang community has welcomed news that most of the maternity services at its hospital will carry on as usual following a state government decision.
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The hospital’s maternity capability, determined by the Department of Health and Human Services, has been changed from level three to level two, meaning it will no longer be able to carry out emergency caesareans.
A department spokesman said the level would apply for the rest of the 2016/17 financial year.
“Future emergencies will be transferred to Camperdown, Warrnambool or Barwon Health,” he said.
“This change will have minimal impact with the health service performing fewer than five emergency caesarean sections last year.”
Terang and Mortlake Health Service chief executive Margaret White described the decision as an “absolute positive”.
“It’s fantastic that we’ve got it clarified and confirmed,” Ms White said.
There were fears the hospital could have been downgraded to a level one, meaning it would not have been able to host births at all.
The hospital was examined as part of a statewide review sparked by baby deaths at Bacchus Marsh.
Gemma Dennis, a Terang woman who led a group of mothers publicly defending the hospital’s maternity service, said she was “incredibly relieved”.
“I’m happy because it means others are going to benefit from the service,” Mrs Dennis said.
“If we need to in the future we will fight for it again.”