Media Resources & Contact
We welcome the chance to share the expertise of our specialised statewide services with colleagues in rural and remote NSW.
Our statewide Perinatal Postmortem Service recently hit the road to deliver new face-to-face training for the Broken Hill and Dubbo maternity units.
The service provides compassionate support and answers for families experiencing the death of a baby shortly before or after birth.
It helps hundreds of NSW families each year from 3 specialised centres at Westmead, Randwick and Newcastle, which for some, is a long way away at such a difficult time.
Recognising this, Fiona O’Shannessy, an expert midwife from our Newcastle service, is bringing face-to-face training to midwives, doctors, and social workers at rural and regional hospital maternity units.
“It was a valuable opportunity to meet staff and build relationships with the clinicians who use our service,” Fiona said.
“Rural hospitals face different challenges than metropolitan centres, not the least of which is the distances families must travel to access healthcare.
“When a pregnancy ends in bereavement, these distances create an additional burden. Knowing who to reach out to and how we can help during such challenging times is reassuring for all involved.”
At Broken Hill, Fiona worked with staff to develop resources and review procedures, including transport to Children’s Hospital Westmead. Although it was a busy day at the hospital there was a fantastic turnout for both sessions, highlighting the commitment of the staff to ongoing learning.
At Dubbo, Fiona provided education to a large group of midwives emphasising the importance of collaboration in providing the best care. Fiona also had the opportunity to meet senior staff, which allowed for further discussions on improving services. Further education is planned via Teams to ensure all staff can benefit from these education opportunities.
More visits to other areas across NSW are planned for 2025 to improve support for staff and families in rural communities. These visits pave the way for improved connections and understanding within the healthcare system of the perinatal postmortem.