Midwife Unit Manager Rozalen Kurthi, who took up the role in August last year, said the team was working hard to provide local mothers, and their babies, with the best possible care.

“I grew up in Newcastle and was trained at the Mater [Hospital],” she said.

“I’ve worked in general nursing and midwifery for the past 37 years.

“More than 20 of those have been at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.”

For the past five years, Ms Kurthi has worked as the team leader in the Delivery Suite at John Hunter Hospital and across all fields of midwifery, including antenatal and postnatal wards, clinics and home maternity service.

She said the passion for midwifery was still there.

“It’s mostly senior midwives here,” she said.

“We’ve got two full-time and then another seven who are either part-time or casual.

“We are a happy little unit and staff morale is very good.

“That makes a big difference.”

Ms Kurthi said she was particularly eager to make the local community aware that the hospital provides a maternity service.

In fact, she personally delivered a baby, little Dekota Taylor, on Tuesday morning.

“We’re very community-focused and offer excellent care working together as a team with our local doctors,” she said.

“Scott Memorial Hospital has obstetricians available on call. 

“On occasions, when they are unavailable, women are transferred to Muswellbrook Hospital where we have a shared arrangement for obstetric services.

“The unit is well equipped with up-to-date equipment that’s needed in case of an emergency.

“We also care for women postnatally who have birthed at other centres.”