The maternity unit at Lithgow Hospital is set to face significantly increased demands on its facilities following the shock announcement of the closure of the birthing unit at the Blue Mountains District Hospital at Katoomba, apparently due to staff shortages.

Sydney West Area Health Service announced the Katoomba closure on Friday, due apparently to a shortage of midwifery nursing staff.

Expectant mothers from the Upper Mountains were told they would have to make alternative arrangements for delivery at Lithgow or Nepean Hospitals.

It was an announcement met with dismay by Mountains residents, as evidence by calls to talkback radio yesterday, and also provided ample fodder for the State Opposition.

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner and former Liberal Candidate for Blue Mountains Michael Paag were both quickly on the case and have slammed Health Minister Reba Meagher for failing to ensure sufficient medical cover, which has led to the shutdown of the Blue Mountains District Anzac Memorial Hospital Birthing Unit.

“Ms Meagher knows it is dangerous to deliver babies without expert doctors being on-call, so she has let down Blue Mountains mothers by not acting sooner to properly staff the new birthing unit,” Mrs Skinner said.

“NSW Labor recently spent millions upgrading the Blue Mountains Hospital Birthing Unit which from Monday July 21 will no longer be used.

“This shutdown will cause major inconveniences and unnecessary stress to expecting parents as they will now be forced to drive hours instead of minutes through roadworks, notorious accident zones and increased traffic to get to hospital to deliver their baby.

“Nepean Hospital Birthing Unit is already under pressure as indicated in evidence provided to the Special Commission of Inquiry.

“According to SWAHS, once the baby is born both mother and baby will be transported back to Blue Mountains Hospital for postnatal care.

“This decision will put increased pressure on an already strained local ambulance and patient transport services at Lithgow and Penrith.

“Shutting down the local birthing unit with five days notice is another example of the incompetence of the Iemma Labor Government.

“Ms Meagher and Member for Blue Mountains Phil Koperberg must explain to Blue Mountains residents why staff shortages have been allowed to get so out of control that the local birthing unit has to be shutdown, what steps is the Iemma Labor Government taking to get this important service restored and when the birthing unit will be reopened,” Mrs Skinner said.

Mr Paag said the Member for Blue Mountains Phil Koperberg and the Iemma Labor Government have failed local families yet again.

“I am disappointed for the staff of the local Birthing Unit who will now forced to work in Nepean Hospital with little notice or no extra compensation for the increased travel costs,” Mr Paag said.

“I will be working with Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner to pressure the Minister for Health Reba Meagher and the Iemma Labor Government to mount an all out campaign to recruit the mix of specialist doctors, midwives and nurses to restore services at the Blue Mountains Hospital Birthing Unit as soon as possible,” Mr Paag said.