Summary
In her 37 year nursing career, including 29 years as a midwife, Longreach Hospital Acting Director of Nursing Sue Bardon has built up some broad experience.
And that includes helping deliver two generations of babies.
In her 37 year nursing career, including 29 years as a midwife, Longreach Hospital Acting Director of Nursing Sue Bardon has built up some broad experience.
And that includes helping deliver two generations of babies.
Ms Bardon was the midwife who delivered Lilly Alexander at Barcaldine Multipurpose Health Service in 2001.
Twenty-three years later she was present at the birth of Lilly’s own baby, Evie, at Longreach Hospital on 8 November.
After great support by the midwives and medical officers, Evie was delivered by Longreach Hospital Senior Medical Officer Dr Keegan Coomer by caesarean, with Ms Bardon in attendance as a scrub nurse.
Evie, Miss Alexander’s first child, weighed in at a healthy 5080g at birth.
“It was really cool having Sue present at Evie’s birth, as well as mine,’’ Miss Alexander said.
“I wasn’t expecting it and it was a nice surprise when I was brought into the theatre and saw Sue was going to be present as well. It was reassuring having great confidence in familiar faces.”
Although born in Barcaldine, where her parents were residents at the time, Miss Alexander and husband Hunter Burton now live in Moranbah.
“I chose to give birth at Longreach for a combination of reasons,’’ she said.
“I have family who now live in Longreach, but also, living in Moranbah, Longreach was the best hospital option for me in which to give birth as the maternity unit there has a really good reputation.
“The midwifery group practice model in Longreach was very attractive to me so I could get to know the people helping me.’’
Ms Bardon, who has worked in the Central West for 31 years, said she was honoured to have delivered Ms Alexander and then had the privilege of being present at Miss Alexander’s own baby’s birth.
“It’s this sort of personal connection you build over the years as midwife to mothers and their families that is one of the most satisfying aspects of our profession,’’ she said.
The connection is even stronger because Miss Alexander’s mother, Nicolle Alexander, now Evie’s grandmother, is herself a former midwife who has worked with Ms Bardon for many years.
Ms Nicolle Alexander currently is the Central West Hospital and Health Service’s Director of Safety and Quality.
“I was so pleased that Sue was present when I gave birth to Lilly and now was able to be present at Evie’s birth as well,’’ she said.
“As a midwife myself, I can say that this full-circle experience across multiple generations is one of the most attractive features of being a midwife and a great incentive for recruitment into the profession.’’
The Longreach Hospital maternity unit offers three single ensuite rooms, a birth suite, a maternity assessment room, a baby assessment room, and an equipment room.
There is also a lounge area with a kitchenette to support visiting families. Ms Bardon said the three single rooms on the maternity ward were big rooms with an ensuite and also an area where mums could bathe their babies.
Between 60–70 babies a year, on average, are born at Longreach Hospital, with 68 in 2023.
“We also provide antenatal care for about 100 women a year through our maternity service,’’ Ms Bardon said.
“For a woman who lives out of Longreach, her midwife will liaise with the local midwifery staff in her community.
“In the Central West, maternity care providers include midwives providing care via a continuity of care midwifery group practice model, GP obstetricians, and the allied health care team, with ongoing follow up and referral to child health services. Women also have the options of shared care with their regular GP.’’
Consumer surveys have shown a consistently high approval rating for the Longreach Hospital maternity unit.
The most recent survey, in 2022 showed 95 per cent of women who delivered their babies at Longreach Hospital said they would deliver in Longreach again and recommend it to others.