A locum obstetrician is set to begin work at the Gladstone Hospital boosting limited maternity services.
Gladstone Hospital has been on maternity bypass since July, which has prevented most women in the city from giving birth locally.
After months of negotiations a temporary doctor has singed a contract to start work on January 30.
It means the hospital will be able to enter Phase 2 to return to maternity services.
Expectant mothers who experience emergencies that cannot be managed by the midwives on shift will be able to be seen by an obstetrician locally.
However, the birthing bypass will remain in place with mothers still having to travel to Rockhampton.
Acting Premier Steven Miles says the bypass remains until they can recruit another four permanent obstetricians.
“We will continue to onboard the four obstetricians who we’ve recruited,” Mr Miles says.
“Some of them are coming from overseas, that will take some time for us to get them here.
“We anticipate to be back to that full complement of 10 obstetricians around the middle of the year.”
