Upper Hunter council demands health funds as Scone maternity ward closes
The last obstetrician at Scone's Scott Memorial Hospital is retiring, forcing expectant mothers to travel to Maitland for antenatal and birth care.
Why it mattersRegional pregnant women now face long drives during labour, and families cite lost maternity care as a reason to leave the region entirely, slowing growth in struggling towns.
AustraliaUpper Hunter residents, especially young families, lack nearby birth services, forcing emergency travel and raising the risk of roadside delivery. This threatens the region's ability to attract and retain working families.
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