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Margaret River welcomes first baby born via water birth 30 November 2020 The Margaret River Hospital has welcomed its first baby born via water birth.Baby Doug arrived on 6 October to his proud parents Amy and John. In a water birth, the mother is immersed in water to labour and birth her child. It is widely reported that the warmth and buoyancy of the water help lessen labour pains, often meaning that no other methods of pain relief are required. The birth is always supported by two midwives and once born, the baby is gently supported to the surface by a midwife to take its first breath. The hospital had previously received numerous requests to facilitate water births. Planning for it commenced in 2019 and involved procuring birthing tubs as well as ensuring an appropriate bath evacuation process was in place, should an emergency occur. Midwifery Coordinator Melony Halsall said the community had expressed interest in having water immersion as a birth opt... -
SafeWA app keeping businesses and patrons COVID safe 27 November 2020 Mandatory contact registers at relevant businesses and venues will be introduced from 5 December 2020. Maintaining a contact register is an extra safety measure and one of the most effective ways to control the spread of COVID-19. WA Health has developed a free, safe, simple and secure contact register app, SafeWA to help businesses comply with this requirement. Businesses or venues required to keep a contact register, will include: food and licenced venues (restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, taverns, nightclubs) gyms, indoor sporting centres and pools places of worship and funeral parlours beauty and personal care services including hairdressers and barbers galleries and museums cinemas, theatres and other entertainment venues auction houses and real estate inspections community facilities, libraries and halls zoos and amusement parks funct... -
Smoke-free staff and consumers at Bunbury Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit 24 November 2020 The Bunbury Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Bunbury Health Campus became a 100 per cent smoke-free environment on Tuesday 15 September 2020 and just two months on has shown amazing results. Several staff members have quit smoking and they have seen an increase in consumers participating in therapy groups on the ward. WA Country Health Service South West Mental Health Acute Psychiatric Unit Nurse Unit Manager Kairon Smith said there have been many benefits for patients, staff, visitors and the community. “There has been a 90 per cent increase in group therapy attendance among the patients since we became smoke free,” Ms Smith said. “People are providing positive feedback regarding the improved health environment in the courtyards because of no cigarette smoke.” “Four staff have quit smoking and many more consumers are attending our weekly s... -
Care Opinion website drives health service improvements and achieves milestone of 2000 stories from regional WA 23 November 2020 The WA Country Health Service thanks Western Australia’s regional residents for taking time to comment on their experiences in the health system, as the Care Opinion website marks 2,000 stories from regional WA. Care Opinion is an independent, moderated public platform where anyone can share their experiences of hospital and health service care. Since the site was introduced in WA in 2015, Care Opinion stories have been viewed more than 840,000 times by regional communities, staff and members of the public. Stories are shared with the relevant health service departments, which are then able to make tangible improvements to the care they provide. WA Country Health Service Chief Executive Jeff Moffet said Care Opinion has been embraced by regional communities, with almost 25 per cent of national Care Opinion stories now coming from country WA. “Health leaders acknowledge t... -
Country ambulance strategy underway: $9.2 million for high priority recommendations 12 November 2020 The first phase of implementation of WA’s country ambulance strategy is underway and will include six new ambulances and a two-year pilot to put paid paramedics into the Kimberley. Of the $9.2 earmarked, $1.6 million will see six brand new ambulances – with state-of-the-art communications and safety technology – added to the Kimberley fleet. To further strengthen services to remote communities, a two-year, $2 million pilot will be implemented to trial three paid professional paramedics in Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing and Derby. In addition, WA Country Health Service (WACHS) will continue to work closely with St John Ambulance, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and metropolitan hospitals to improve patient flow and coordination with a $5.6 million investment in digital technologies. The $9.2 million investment delivers the first phase of The Country Ambulance Strategy...
Last Updated:
17/04/2026