July 2005

Austin and Mercy co-location benefit to mother and baby

Healthy and happy, Kellie Marsh, 28, and son Harley have left hospital and are home in Watsonia.

Mother and son had been patients at the co-located Austin Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women since a routine pregnancy check—including an ultrasound—revealed the main artery of Ms Marsh’s heart was about to burst.

Ms Marsh was rushed to the Austin Health Emergency Department.

A team of surgeons, nurses, obstetricians and anaesthetists delivered Harley by emergency caesarean operation at the Austin then took him to the Mercy’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Ms Marsh then underwent a life-saving seven-hour cardiac operation to repair an aortic aneurism and recovered in the Intensive Care Unit in the new Austin Hospital Tower.

Doctors said the co-location may have saved Ms Marsh and her baby’s life.

Because the Austin and Mercy Hospitals were in the same precinct, all their medical needs were on hand.