Statement from Darling Downs Health Chief Executive Annette Scott
Darling Downs Health welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls on the independent assurance review of the Toowoomba Hospital Maternity Services.
We appreciate the opportunity to work with the independent panel appointed by Queensland Health to help drive continuous improvement for our patients, families and our workforce and will cooperate fully with the review.
While the independent review conducted last year confirmed high standards of clinical care, it also identified opportunities to strengthen and improve. We are committed to maintaining the high levels of maternity care and this assurance review is another opportunity to ensure transparency and openness.
Protecting community and staff confidence remains our top priority. Our health service is guided by core values that place the wellbeing of our community and staff at the centre of everything we do, ensuring timely and equitable care for all.
I want to reassure our community that our maternity care services are high quality and provide safe, woman centred care which in 2025 delivered more than 2800 babies into the world under the care of our maternity teams.
Fast Facts about the Assurance Review
- The review has been commissioned by the Director-General of Queensland Health.
- It is independent of Darling Downs Health and does not report to Darling Downs Health.
- Queensland Health has decided the terms of reference and membership of the independent panel.
- A feedback questionnaire has been developed by Queensland Health as an opportunity for people who have received maternity care at the Toowoomba Hospital to share their experience of the complaints process at Darling Downs Health. The feedback questionnaire will close on 10 April 2026 and can be accessed here.
- The assurance review is expected to be finalised in May 2026.
- Questions related to the review, its terms of reference, its scope, the feedback questionnaire and other details can be referred to the Assurance review of Toowoomba Hospital Maternity Unit | Queensland Health.