News & Events: Media Releases

Hospital baby boom

February 2011

NEW life was breathed in to the North West Private Hospital this month when it opened its new maternity ward, heralding the quick arrival of some of the northwest's most precious residents.

Director of Clinical Services Ellen Whittaker said staff witnessed a "baby
boom" on the ward's first day in operation with 14 births, well above their average of five births a day.

She said the new maternity ward, which is part of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment that began in 2007, had 30 private ensuite rooms and greatly improved on their previous 22-bed capacity.

Rafael Joseph Pomery became the first baby to be delivered in the new maternity ward when he was born on February 10 at 11am. He was the first child of proud parents Luke and Nadine Pomery of Zillmere.

"It was a pretty amazing event, it was wonderful." Mr Pomery said of the birth.

The care of the North West staff was amazing," he said. North West Private Hospital CEO Chris Murphy said their new ward offered expectant mothers access to special obstetric services in a modern, private setting.

Mr Murphy said, on average, they delivered about 1800 babies each year but the demand for their services was growing as population on Brisbane's northside expanded.

"We're also about to commence (building) a new birth suite," he said.

"It's a real growth phase for the hospital. We offer specialist obstetrics services to almost all northside of Brisbane."

Photo & article reprinted with permission of North West News, Quest Newspapers.