A new model to provide services for women giving birth is being rolled out on Kangaroo Island, but it has arrived too late for some.
Olivia Weatherspoon is one of several women who were forced to travel across St Vincent Gulf to the mainland to give birth after birthing services on the island were suspended in September.
"I was disappointed and a bit nervous, but I just had to go with it," Ms Weatherspoon said.
"You don't have a relationship with the doctors and midwives who end up supporting you when you're thrown into a hospital you're not familiar with.
"Lucky we had good weather because a rough trip on the ferry would be my worst nightmare with a newborn baby."
Ms Weatherspoon said while she was "lucky" to be seen at Victor Harbor while staying at Goolwa, she knew of other new mothers who had to drive to Adelaide after catching the ferry off the island.
"I hope to birth on the island just so I can relax in my own home waiting for the arrival of the baby, not having to have a bag packed and be sitting in a shack waiting without my family and friends," she said.
"I really hope they're opening the services here for the next time I have a baby because I wouldn't want to do it again."
Community demands for service return
A new model for birth delivery services on Kangaroo Island will involve the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network partnering with the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital to deliver a midwife unit manager, two registered midwives, consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology, and GP obstetricians.
State Health Minister Chris Picton said the new model would be monitored to assess its sustainability.
"We need to have a service like this operating on the island for women because any hour of the night this might be needed, and you wouldn't necessarily have a ferry or a flight ready to take you [to the mainland]," he said.
"However, it is a low-volume service; there aren't that many women giving birth on the island.
"This service is working together with the Women's and Children's Hospital and having rotations of staff back and forth between the hospital, and that's important to make sure we can improve the training of staff, keep that sustainability, and also attract more staff to the service.
Mr Picton said the model could be expanded to other regional areas lacking staff, depending on its success.
"Potentially this could be a good blueprint in terms of other services across the state in terms of where we can better link in with those major metro hospitals," he said.
Upgrades planned for Mid North patients
The state government, meanwhile, has announced upgrades to the Clare Hospital will begin in August.
A $4.8 million redevelopment of the regional medical centre will include upgrades to the surgical theatre suite and a new central sterile supply department for sterilising equipment.
Mr Picton said the upgrades were expected to be completed by early next year.
