Pregnant women in regional Queensland are not receiving adequate care due to chronic maternity workforce shortages, the Australian Medical Association says.
Three of the four obstetricians at Rockhampton Hospital have resigned while the Gladstone and Biloela maternity units have been on bypass for months, AMA Queensland president Maria Boulton said.
She is calling on Queensland Health to improve working conditions for staff so they have an incentive to stay instead of leaving.
"Our regional hospitals are facing intense workforce pressure," Dr Boulton said on Saturday.
"Staff have stepped up and are doing the best they can, with some doing the work of three people. This is not sustainable. This is not safe."
Dr Boulton said staff have been shuffled around to plug gaps, which has led to hospitals being short-staffed.
Workers must be supported in taking time off otherwise they will leave to work elsewhere, she said.
"Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are human," Dr Boulton said. "They need to have breaks. They get tired. They get sick."
Queensland Health should also lift its ban on employees working in other public hospitals on their days off, Dr Boulton said.
"We know of doctors who would like to work as locums in Queensland regional hospitals but can't, so they are working in New South Wales instead," she said.
"This is nonsensical. It's time to end this short-sighted rule that sends doctors interstate instead of where they are needed most in Queensland."
AAP has contacted Queensland Health for comment.
