Dr Carl Henman is a GP obstetrician who regularly delivers babies at Wagga Base Hospital, but a routine review of his agreement with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District could see him no longer able to do vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) deliveries.

“The MLHD feels that on the basis associated with the risk attached to certain types of cases, that would not be within the scope of practice of GP obstetric care,” he said.

Wagga Base Hospital director Helen Cooper said Dr Henman had the full support of hospital management and it was solely the issue of VBAC deliveries currently being discussed.

“We are very supportive  of GP obstetricians like Carl and others in the district,” Ms Cooper said.

“Each GP obstetrician is very different with their skills, so everyone has to be individually credentialed for the skill set that they have.

“Carl is very experienced and is very capable. It is just a matter of us working with him and the obstetrics department around what Carl is actually able to do around his scope of practice.”

Dr Henman believes the role of GP obstetricians, like GP anaesthetists or GP surgeons, fulfill an important role, particularly when it comes to providing continuity of care for patients.

The GP, who practices at Riverina Family Medicine, said he had been heartened by the level of support he had received from his patients, who were keen to have him deliver their babies.