By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM’S baby boom has shown no signs of slowing down with more than six new bundles of joy being born at Werribee Mercy Hospital every day last year.
Figures released by the hospital show that there was an eight per cent increase in births in 2013 when compared to the previous year.
In total 2394 babies were born at the hospital last year, and Mercy Health Executive Director of Health Services, Dr Linda Mellors, said extra funding had allowed them to increase maternity services by 20 per cent this financial year.
She said this was an exciting and much-needed development for the women and families of Wyndham.
“We are extremely proud of our staff and the passion they show in helping families bring their babies into the world in a safe and nurturing environment,’’ Dr Mellors said.
“Our main focus is to provide the best possible care to all our patients while our research clinicians and scientists continue to make breakthroughs in medical research and treatment.’’
There was also a 7.5 per cent increase in births at Mercy Health’s other hospital, the Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg, where almost 17 babies were being born every day last year.
Dr Mellors said she was also looking forward to the new Maternity Group Practice model of care, which will be fully operational this month in the Family Birth Centre at Mercy Hospital for Women.
Maternity Group Practice means that mothers will remain in the care of the same midwife throughout the course of their pregnancy.
