Assurance review of Toowoomba Hospital Maternity Unit

On 9 February 2026, Queensland Health commissioned an independent review of Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service’s (HHS) Toowoomba Hospital Maternity Unit.

The Review will assess and report on Darling Downs HHS’ response to recommendations made following reviews and investigations into Toowoomba Hospital’s Maternity Unit since 2018 and evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of complaints processes.

The Review will be undertaken by independent experts consisting of an experienced maternity clinician, a maternity consumer representative, and a workplace and occupational health and safety lawyer.

A copy of the report is due to be handed to the Director-General of Queensland Health in June 2026. An extension to the initial timeframe was granted to allow the reviewers more time to finalise their work.

The Review will include participation from individuals and organisations, including clinicians and professionals, consumers and their families.

View the terms of reference.

View statement from the Director-General Queensland Health.

Review Team

Ted Weaver – lead reviewer: Ted is an obstetrician and gynaecologist with more than four decades of experience in maternity care in both the private and public sectors. He is a senior medical officer and Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology within the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and co-chair of the Queensland Maternity and Perinatal Quality Council (QMPQC).

Belinda Winter – reviewer: Belinda is a workplace relations lawyer with more than two decades of experience in labour and employment law and occupational health and safety law. She is recognised in these two practice areas as a highly experienced lawyer and has been listed in Best Lawyers Australia for more than 10 consecutive years.

Bec Jenkinson – reviewer: Bec is a maternity consumer advocate with more than 15 years' experience as a leader in the Australian health consumer movement. She was instrumental in developing and implementing Queensland clinical guidelines that centre the consumer experience of health care, including maternity care. Bec is also a researcher at the University of Queensland.

Your opportunity to participate in the review

Part of this review is to evaluate the adequacy of the complaints process, from raising an initial concern with staff, to formally raising a complaint when needed. To understand the complaints process, a feedback questionnaire was available from 5 March 2026 to 10 April 2026 to assist consumers, their family members, and support persons to share their experience of the complaints process at Darling Downs HHS with the Review Team.

The online feedback questionnaire is now closed. The Review team would like to thank all the people who took the time to provide their feedback.

What if I have a complaint?

The Assurance Review is evaluating the complaints process at Darling Downs HHS.

If you have a complaint and have not raised it with the Toowoomba Hospital, please do so here: Give feedback | Darling Downs Health.

If you have raised your complaint with the Toowoomba Hospital and are not satisfied with the outcome, please contact the Office of the Health Ombudsman via Make a complaint - Office of the Health Ombudsman.

Where can I access support?