A new program, developed to strengthen the capacity of rural hospitals to respond to maternal and newborn emergencies, was launched in Kilmore yesterday.
Kilmore and District Hospital is the first hospital to host the Maternity and Newborn Emergency (MANE) program which will be rolled out to 12 Victorian rural hospitals during its first year.
The MANE program was developed by the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital through funding from the Victorian Government.
The program involves training by specialist staff from the Women’s and RCH in emergency care for women and newborns.
Kilmore Hospital CEO Sue Race said the hospital was very pleased to be the first location to launch the program.
“We hold the safety and wellbeing of our patients and families as our highest priority. This new program will ensure that our services benefit from the best possible training and advice in maternity and newborn emergency services”, Sue Race said.
Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Women’s, Tanya Farrell said midwives, neonatal nurses and doctors from the Women’s and RCH will focus on interdisciplinary team training.
“The MANE program provides education and support to rural maternity services to enhance best practice care to women and families. It means women and families will have access to this vital care closer to home,” she said.