TWEED MP Geoff Provest has vowed to do all he can to overcome problems which have seen the Tweed Hospital refuse to take new patients on some days, instead sending them north into Queensland to the Gold Coast Hospital.

His comments yesterday follow an anxious Mother's Day for expectant mums in Murwil- lumbah who feared they would have to endure trip of more than an hour to Southport.

A controversial North Coast Area Health Service policy normally means pregnant women who might need a caesarean or other special assistance are not allowed to give birth at Murwillumbah District Hospital and are referred to the Tweed Hospital.

A Murwillumbah woman said she was aware of one young expectant mum who had put off calling the hospital despite going into the early stages of labour in the hope that the Tweed Hospital would later not be “on bypass”.

However an area health service spokeswoman said the Tweed Hospital was “not on ambulance bypass” on Sunday.

Mr Provest said he would be talking to new NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner about problems at the Tweed Hospital. The area health service spokeswoman said clinical decisions were made in the best interests of the mother and baby and in full consultation with the patient.

“This ensures the safety of all pregnant women and their babies,” she said.