Flinders Medical Centre Mother
Reference: UV3H-AACK-T4D3-55HF
- Outcome
- Foster Care
- Jurisdiction
- Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Year
- 2024
- Account type
- Court Or Official Findings
Quick summary
- Quick summary
- A confidential review found a baby was taken out of its mother's room at Flinders Medical Centre before child protection workers had authorised the removal.
Full story
- Full story
- Two confidential Southern Adelaide Local Health Network reviews obtained by ABC News found DCP workers regularly breached policy when removing newborns from Flinders Medical Centre, warning of 'unethical, distressing and uncomfortable' practices, including midwives being told to stop mothers breastfeeding before removals. In one case reviewed, the baby was taken out of the mother's room before child protection workers authorised the removal under section 41 of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act.
Where
- Hospital
- Flinders Medical Centre
- Agency
- Department for Child Protection (SA)
- City
- Adelaide
- State
- SA
- Country
- Australia
- First Nations
- Not Stated
The removal
- When the baby was taken
- In Hospital (First 7 Days)
- Where the baby was taken from
- Maternity Ward
- Stated reasons
- Not Stated
- How it was done
- Emergency Removal Without OrderHospital Hold (No Agency Order)
- What happened during separation
- Breastfeeding Stopped
Support after
- Grief counselling offered
- Not Stated
Getting baby back
- Did she get her baby back
- Unknown
- Where the baby is now
- Unknown
Official response
- Official response
- A DCP spokeswoman said initiatives had been brought in since the reviews, including better communication between departments and more involvement of Aboriginal consultants.
- Legal action
- Inquiry Or Review
Sources
- Midwives ordered to stop mothers breastfeeding before 'unethical' newborn removals, documents reveal · ABC News · Official Report