Benalla, home to around 14,000 people, is now one of the largest towns in regional Victoria without a functioning maternity service.
Last year, Benalla Health paused the birthing service, assuring the community it would resume once GP obstetricians were recruited.
Instead, the service was downgraded to level one capability, the lowest category, which provides only antenatal and postnatal support.
“Level one maternity might suit a small town like Casterton or Myrtleford, but it is completely inadequate for Benalla,” Ms Cleeland, who is also the shadow assistant minister for health, said.
“For an electorate spanning 12,500 square kilometres, this government should be ashamed that women have so little support to labour safely at their local hospital.
“Families in my community are now faced with fragmented care, appointments spread across multiple locations, long travel times and enormous stress at a time when continuity of care is critical.”
Ms Cleeland said the collapse of regional maternity services was having broader impacts, with Kilmore’s service frequently on bypass, rising numbers of ‘births before arrival’, and growing demand for Ronald McDonald House as regional women were forced to leave home weeks before their due date.
“What we know is when we lose maternity, we lose other skilled services like anaesthetists. The flow-on effect is devastating for small hospitals,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The women and families of Benalla deserve the same standard of care as families in Mansfield or Echuca. They deserve it now, not after another review.
“The minister must step in and restore birthing through a midwifery group practice model.”
When asked for comment, the government pointed to a Benalla Health media release from April 2, 2025.
It states that Benalla Health is dedicated to delivering exceptional care and ensuring a safe and high-quality maternity service for the community.
“In 2024, we paused our birthing services while we worked to recruit and train additional GP obstetricians to work at our hospital,” it reads.
“While recruitment is ongoing, we have taken the opportunity to review our maternity services, and to develop a new maternity model of care that will strengthen our maternity workforce and support the recommencement of our birthing services.
“We have been working closely with our partners, including local GPs and surrounding health services, as well as our community.
“We remain committed to re-establishing and returning to our birthing services and maintaining a maternity service that consistently delivers best care to every person, every time.
“As we continue to develop this new maternity model of care, from April 1, 2025 Benalla Health will operate as a level one capability maternity service, providing routine antenatal care.
“Benalla Health offers a wide range of antenatal services, including free antenatal clinics, antenatal classes, early pregnancy classes, breastfeeding support provided by a lactation consultant, domiciliary care for post-birth home care and postnatal care for mothers returning to Benalla Health after giving birth.
“Victoria’s capability frameworks guide how planned maternity and newborn care is safely provided.”
You can learn more about Victoria’s capability framework for maternity and newborn services via health.vic.gov.au
15°C