Quarantine mum separated from newborn

A mother who gave birth 10 weeks earlier than expected was separated from her newborn son and forced back into Queensland’s hotel quarantine system.

The Courier Mail reported on Friday that the Canadian woman, who gave birth a day after arriving in hotel quarantine in Brisbane, was devastated after being was transferred from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital back into isolation without her child just days after the premature birth.

The baby, born at 30 weeks, was being cared for at the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, with the mother only allowed to spend two hours a day with him.

The woman told The Courier Mail that Queensland Health later granted her an exemption from quarantine – a day after the paper started asking questions about the matter.

Queensland Health defended their handling of the situation and said the health and wellbeing of guests staying in hotel quarantine was a priority.

“Guests who require hospital treatment are taken to the nearest facility equipped to take care of their medical needs. This includes women who need to give birth,” a spokesperson told media.

“When the patient is ready to be safely discharged, they are returned to their hotel quarantine accommodation to complete the rest of their nominated quarantine time.”

Queensland Health said all people in hotel quarantine were provided with the necessary support that they needed, especially those who have recently received medical care.

“Staff at the hotel quarantine hotels will facilitate ­follow-up clinical care if ­required,” the spokesperson said.