The concerns, initially aired at the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state branch’s Annual Delegates Conference, come after services were consolidated last year. 

It was announced in 2015 that the Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe would lose some maternity services, meaning patients had to travel to Burnie to give birth.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the decision followed extensive consultation with stakeholders and was done for the safety of mothers and their babies. 

But ANMF state assistant secretary Emily Shepherd said the changes had led to women and staff suffering. 

“It means that midwives are having to eat their lunch and write their notes in a patient waiting area because there aren’t enough assessment rooms,” she said.

“We’ve got midwives conducting assessments and counselling in a room that backs onto a pathology service that hears every word that’s being said.” 

Ms Shepherd said there were also some cases of pregnant women at the hospital having to use public toilets when completing urine tests.

“It limits, from a recruitment perspective, the amount of midwives willing to work only in clinic and not being able to practice in their full scope,” she said. 

“The integrated maternity services have been implemented now for around six months, there’s been no evaluation around the efficacy of that implementation.” 

A Tasmanian Health Service spokesperson said there were plans to renovate the antenatal clinic space at the North West Regional Hospital and the antenatal space at the Mersey Community Hospital was being renovated. 

A government spokesperson said toilet facilities were available inside the hospital.

Mr Ferguson reaffirmed that the changes to birthing services followed the advice of medical professionals. 

“Look at the progress that’s been achieved but don’t think that’s as good as it gets – we need to continue to work, I need to continue to listen,” he said. 

“Mothers and babies … are receiving the safest service and I wonder if it’s possible that a life has already been saved.”