Lucas Ward was born more than two-and-a-half months early at Dubbo Base last Tuesday, and is now safe and stable in Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital where he will remain for at least another two months.

The baby’s parents, David and Camilla Ward have praised the Dubbo Base Hospital staff for their “professionalism” and “care” of their baby and felt compelled to thank the staff publicly in light of the recent upheaval in the Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) management.

“I felt that although the current issues being raised in the press regarding the health services in our area are not favourable, we wanted to publicly acknowledge the staff at Dubbo hospital who seem to be working under conditions beyond what appears humanly possible,” Mr Ward said.

“If it was not for them our little boy wouldn’t be here today. Everything was professional and amazing”.

After an emergency caesarean, baby Lucas was flown by NETS (New Born and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NSW)) to Sydney immediately and transported to the Intensive Care Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Described as a “traumatic” day, Mr Ward admitted he felt at ease by the care offered by hospital staff at both Dubbo and Sydney.

“In five hours of Lucas being born he was stable in Sydney,” Mr Ward said.

“The staff were beyond belief, they were fantastic ... with all that is negative at the moment this needs to be told.

“The service and the way the staff went about their job was professional, there was no panic and they told us in black and white terms what was going on ... they were fantastic,” he said.

Mr Ward said the four ambulance staff - three nurses and pilot - who assisted with Lucas’ journey to Sydney should also be thanked.

David, Camilla and their daughter Olivia will remain in Sydney until Lucas is ready return to home to Dubbo.

belinda.strahorn@ruralpress.com