SOUTH-WEST Coast MP, Roma Britnell has once again been kicked out of the Victorian parliament, this time after questioning the health minister on Wednesday this week, about the roadside birth between Portland and Warrnambool, the day before (Tuesday).

A Portland woman was forced to give birth on the side of the road while on her way to Warrnambool because the closest hospital to her residence, Portland District Health (PDH), is presently without maternity services.

During question time, Ms Britnell reminded the health minister that she had only just raised the precariousness of the situation for expectant mothers the previous sitting week, warning the government that the closure of birthing services at PDH would mean roadside births would occur.

Ms Britnell said one of the expectant mothers from Portland, who was worried she might not make it to Warrnambool’s South West Healthcare (SWH) on time, had her worst fears realised on Tuesday and gave birth on the side of the road.

“This cannot continue,” Ms Britnell said.

“When will the State Government reopen birthing services at the Portland hospital?”

In response, Health minister Martin Foley said that foremost was the issue of delivering services safely and in a manner that could be endured safely.

“Any suggestion that the Portland health service or indeed the other services in that region would ever compromise safety is not one that this government would support,” he said.

On a point of order, Ms Britnell interjected, seeking clarification as to what the minister meant by ‘safe’.

“The fact that you are a long way from Melbourne does not mean you should have to settle for anything other than excellence,” she said.

Minister Foley criticised Ms Britnell for seeking to politicise the current circumstances of the PDH.

“The inescapable truth is that there is a nationwide shortage, particularly when it comes to regional and rural Victoria, of midwives in our community, in our state, and in our nation,” he said.

“I think we should all resolve to back the Portland District Health service in its efforts to recruit and to design and deliver safe and world-class midwifery services.”

The Spectator reported last month that PDH maternity services would be closed for at least three months due to a shortage of midwives, but would continue to provide services for antenatal clinics, birthing classes, and domiciliary care during this time.

An alleged dispute involving the Department of Health, the PDH board, and local doctors, about funding and staffing issues, has been claimed to have caused the suspension of its maternity services.

SWH were contacted for comment regarding the roadside birth earlier this week and said they generally do not comment on the specifics of any individual patient, however, stated they received a maternity patient and newborn child via ambulance in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“Both patients are in a stable condition and receiving the best of care,” a SWH spokesperson said.

As to SWH's preparedness for patients in labour, the spokesperson responded that preparations are made for a range of circumstances and different births, however with regard specifically to travel and distance, SWH assess how progressed labour is, and if it is the patient's first birth among other considerations.

Western District Health Service (WDHS) chief executive, Rohan Fitzgerald told the Spectator last month that it would be assisting women from the Glenelg Shire to give birth in the coming months.

“WDHS is pleased to be able to support women across the south-west, including patients from Portland and the Glenelg Shire, to give birth locally,” he said.