Sutherland Birthing Services
The Birthing Unit at The Sutherland Hospital provides labour and birth care for women experiencing a low risk pregnancy.
Birthing Unit is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The unit consists of 5 birthing rooms, each with a large bathroom and bath for women who desire a waterbirth. Alternatively there is access to 24 hour Anaesthetic cover for women who require epidural pain relief.
If high risk complications arise during labour, liaison with St George Hospital through the Maternity Services Network occurs should the need for transfer of mother and/ or infant arise. Active antenatal assessment and post dates pregnancy clinics also operate through the Birthing Unit between Monday and Friday.
The Sutherland Hospital endeavours to support women’s choice during labour and birth, and provide a quality service to families in the Sutherland Shire.
Our hospital cares about the privacy of the women we care for, and we also care about the privacy of your family, other patients and our staff. Feeling comfortable and respected is important for everyone.
Our staff can help you capture the special first moments with your babies, in a way that is appropriate, safe and respectful.
Please ask a staff member if you are uncertain when it is appropriate to take a photo, film or record – we are here to help and answer your questions.
Personal use
Women, their families and friends are welcome to photograph, film or record at the hospital for personal use but there may be times when taking photographs, filming or recording is not appropriate so we may ask you to stop. This is so we can provide women and babies the best possible care and support.
If you want to photograph, film or record, we need to get approval from our staff members, and other patients or visitors if they can be seen or heard in your photos, videos or recordings (this includes streaming or broadcasting on applications such as Skype or Facetime).
This means they need to fill out a written consent form that includes their signature and the date. We do this to protect the privacy of everyone in the hospital, and to align with NSW Health Policies and processes that are also there to protect everyone.
All our staff have the right to say no to being photographed, filmed or recorded and we may ask you to stop if they have not given permission or it is not safe to be photographing, filming or recording. These rules apply to any clinical care you receive. not just at the time of your baby's birth.
Social Media
No photographs, video footage or recordings taken during your stay at the hospital can be posted/published online or on any form of social media without permission (including but not limited to YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Snapchat, personal blogs).
You cannot post/publish:
- other patients or staff who have not consented or agreed to be included
- names of staff, including their identification badges
- any visible patient information, for example a health chart or notes on a computer screen
- photography, filming or recording of consultations.
You must receive written consent from anyone in your photos, video footage or recordings before you post any images on online or on social media.
Non-personal use
We know that you may want to bring a professional photographer to your birth. Please discuss this with our staff prior to your birth so we can help with your request.
Any professional photography, video footage or recordings used for non-personal use, commercial use or for financial gain requires written consent from anyone that can be seen in your photos, video footage or recordings. This includes content posted/published on social media for financial gain.
If you have any questions about photography, filming or recordings please speak to your Midwife or Community Maternity Midwifery Unit Manager. It is best to start this discussion with staff at one of your antenatal visits, not once labour has begun.