1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: And now we have spoken through the week to women 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: who say that they've been unable to book scans while pregnant, 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: some traveling to Catherine for scans as they're going through 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: the public system and have been unable to get in 5 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: here in Darwin and Palmerston. Now we spoke to a 6 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: Catherine's sonographer yesterday who said the average of around ten 7 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: patients a week is going to Catherine for scans at 8 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: the moment. Now joining me on the show is doctor 9 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: Jeremy Chin, the co director of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 10 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: nt Health. Good morning to you, doctor Chin. 11 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: Hi, how are you going? 12 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, really good, Thank you so much for your time 13 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: this morning. Now, can you tell us at what stages 14 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: are scans needed for pregnancy? 15 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great question, and I think the reality 16 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 2: for many women who are on their pregnancy journey at 17 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 2: the moment is that they'll have a number of scans 18 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 2: throughout the pregnancy, even if it's low risk, even if 19 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 2: it's uncomplicated. And these are all recommended scans, and the 20 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: first one will usually be, you know, after they've seen 21 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 2: GP with a positive pregnancy test, either a blood or 22 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 2: urine test, and that'll be really to confirm that we've 23 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 2: got one baby inside the womb, that it's growing and 24 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 2: developing well, and we can measure the baby there to 25 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 2: see that it's got the right size for the gestation, 26 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 2: so we can accurately assess when the baby was conceived 27 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: and therefore when it's likely that the baby might be born. 28 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: But the next one after that will be that sort 29 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 2: of around the twelve week scan to check the thickness 30 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 2: of the back of the neck, and that will be 31 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 2: offered to women who are pregnant by their GP and 32 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 2: it will be not all women will choose to have it, 33 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,839 Speaker 2: but many many women will choose to have it because 34 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: it can contribute and can be part of a risk 35 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 2: assessment with blood tests for things like Down syndrome and 36 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 2: other chromosomal changes and variations. So that would be the 37 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 2: next one. Most women after that would probably have one 38 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: or two more ultrasounds, and the most common one would 39 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: be what we call the anomaly or the anatomy scan 40 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 2: at about twenty weeks gest station the middle of pregnancy. 41 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 2: You get to see the hands, the feet, You get 42 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 2: to get a nice profile of the baby. Often that's 43 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 2: where the baby photos come from. You get an idea 44 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: whether you're having a baby of the male or the 45 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 2: female sex with some level of accuracy. But it's really 46 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 2: to look at you two arms, two legs, heart, lungs, liver, 47 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 2: bow in all those kinds of very detailed things that 48 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 2: we can see now on ultrasound. 49 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: Now, doctor Chin, if you go through the public system, 50 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: are those scans, when are those scans conducted? And where 51 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: do they happen? 52 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,239 Speaker 2: Yeah? Yeah, And that's a really good question that there's 53 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: a clear transition from primary health care into the public system, 54 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:47,920 Speaker 2: which people would be used to thinking of as coming 55 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: to the hospital or coming to the anti natal clinic 56 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 2: with their scans. And so when we see people who 57 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: are pregnant, it's often at about fourteen to sixteen weeks pregnant, 58 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 2: So they've already had their routine blood tests done by 59 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: their GP, they've already had their scans done by their GP, 60 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 2: if that's what they've chosen to do. And for us, 61 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 2: it's about making sure that everything's going well for their pregnancy, 62 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 2: making sure we can dot all the eyes and cross 63 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 2: all the t's, planning for the rest of their pregnancy, 64 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: and booking in their twenty week scan. And for those 65 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 2: people who come through our public clinics at Royal Darwin Hospital, 66 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: for example, will offer them that service publicly through either 67 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: our ultrasound departments located in Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Hospital. 68 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: The slip can also be used. The referral slips can 69 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 2: also be used at a private radiology center because some 70 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 2: women may find that it's more convenient for them, it's 71 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 2: open at better times, or they might have a have 72 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: already met an ultrasound specialist too they really connect with 73 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 2: And that's perfectly fine too with. 74 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: Obviously, I mean, we've had quite a few pregnant moms 75 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: get in contact with us over the last couple of 76 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: weeks about their concerns with not actually being able to 77 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: get in for those scans. People that are going through 78 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: the public system that are saying, you know, they're due 79 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: for their twelve week scan, but it's being delayed a 80 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: number of weeks. 81 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think that that that handover from the 82 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 2: public primary care system with their GPS, where people would 83 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: normally be referred to a private provider to get that 84 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 2: new coal translucency, that twelve week specialist scan done, which 85 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 2: is only accredited in the private systems at the moment 86 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: is really that transition. So we would expect when women 87 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 2: are coming to us that that they've had that opportunity, 88 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 2: they've been offered that appointment, they've had time to find 89 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 2: a provider, a private provider of their choice. 90 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: What happens if they can't, Because that's been the biggest 91 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: concern is that for some of these expectant mums that 92 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: they're really quite worried that if they can't actually do that, 93 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: you know, that they're not going through all the all 94 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: the processes that they feel they should be. 95 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, and that that can be a considerable source 96 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: of anxiety. I think we should acknowledge that often bat 97 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: you know, for women who are undertaking their first pregnant, 98 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 2: but even second, third, fourth pregnancies, it is a time 99 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 2: when there's a lot more change and you know, there's 100 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 2: always another test to be offered. I think there's a 101 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 2: couple of things to say there. This is an issue 102 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: that's faced nationally. So the concept that women are seeing 103 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 2: their GPS and being offered a twelve week nucle scan 104 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 2: in the private system is across jurisdictions. Queensland, South Australia, 105 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory included in Western Australia, and so the 106 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 2: access to public hospital nucle translucency scans where they're available 107 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: is only for very high women with specific high risk categories, 108 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: and there are a very very small number of people. 109 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 2: Most of the women who are coming through our service 110 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 2: for a young, fit, healthy for example, so they wouldn't 111 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: qualify whether they would be in the NT in Queensland 112 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:53,679 Speaker 2: or in Victoria for example. The twelve week scan itself 113 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 2: has become a much more complex area and gps are 114 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,280 Speaker 2: getting increasingly skilled and knowledgeable in this area, and so 115 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 2: a lot of the twelve week scan will be able 116 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 2: to show us the thickness at the back of the 117 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: neck and we'll be able to see the baby's anatomy. 118 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 2: But a lot of people are actually also having that 119 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 2: scan to help them make decisions about the risk of 120 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 2: chromosomal changes. And there are other chromosomal changes tests that 121 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: we can do non invasive prenatal testing from a blood 122 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 2: test which is available in the private system at the 123 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 2: moment as well, that I think some of your listeners 124 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 2: and women in the NT are accessing. 125 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, and I guess the big concern here from 126 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: a lot of women is that if they're not actually 127 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: able to get in for those scans. Is there going 128 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: to be a risk to their unborn child? 129 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think that the answer is that the 130 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: scan itself doesn't pose any risk, and not having the 131 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: scan also doesn't pose any risk. But it does change 132 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 2: things because it's less information that people will have to 133 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 2: make decisions about how their pregnancy will be going forward. 134 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: And the state of the art for obstetric care is 135 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: really antiinatal care has been turned on its head. We're 136 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 2: learning more and more and this is translating research into 137 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: practice of not quite here landed on you know, in 138 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 2: mainstream care yet. But I think in the future we 139 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 2: are going to be seeing a push towards earlier scans, 140 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 2: earlier tests, so that women can make choices about how 141 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 2: their pregnancy is going to go. And also we can 142 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: start therapeutics to radically change the way pregnancies are going, 143 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: for example, reducing their risk of pregnancy related complications from 144 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: high blood pressure, et cetera, et cetera. So I think 145 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 2: we should watch this space absolutely, and there's definitely something 146 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: to do for all of us, you know, as obstetricians, 147 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: as maternity services, care providers, and as a nation to 148 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 2: try and help risks, sertify care for women so that 149 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 2: their journey throughout pregnancy can be as positive as possible. 150 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: So, Doctor Chin, from what I can gather from what 151 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: you are saying at this point in time, the women 152 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: that are struggling to get a scan, it's not through 153 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: the health department where there are delays, but it's through 154 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: them trying to book in for those scan through private practices. 155 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: So maybe we don't have enough sonographers. 156 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, you know, we have a fantastically skilled 157 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 2: group of sonographers at the hospital. We're very lucky to 158 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 2: have them and they're a very value part of the workforce. 159 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: They do fantastic work and I'm hoping that many of 160 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 2: your listeners when they go through their pregnancy scans are 161 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 2: lucky enough not to meet them, because they're obviously reserved 162 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 2: for very high risk cases. But generally we're seeing, you know, 163 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 2: in the workforce, and you'll see this around Australia. There's 164 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 2: been a change in the workforce dynamics and it seems 165 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 2: clear from the access that your listeners and other women 166 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 2: are having in the NT but also in other jurisdictions 167 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 2: that it's affecting the private sphere. 168 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: Now I have just received a message from one of 169 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: our listeners from Rachel and it says, good morning, Katie. 170 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: Regarding ultrasounds, I'm experiencing the same issue. We've got a 171 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: referral from our GP for urgent US for early pregnancy 172 00:08:55,360 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: dating scan viability called territory X ray and DPHI. I 173 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: met and was advised for urgent appointment. The waitless time 174 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: would see us getting seen at the end of November. 175 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: Had to turn up and literally wait at DPH for cancelation. 176 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: Have had a complex history with our first pregnancy resulting 177 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: in the still birth of our son in the late 178 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: third trimester, have undergone eighteen cycles of IVF following our 179 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: son's death, and spontaneously became pregnant after seven years of trying. 180 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: Despite pregnancy history and PTSD and anxiety. We still have 181 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: to sit and wait to see if this pregnancy is viable. 182 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:40,079 Speaker 1: And I mean, that's a really difficult, difficult situation for h. 183 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 2: That's message to here, arrible posision to be in. And 184 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 2: I think it's really important that we really make a 185 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 2: distinction here about services available for complicated or high risk 186 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 2: pregnancies for which our public service is always available and 187 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 2: low risk and otherwise uncomplicated pregnancies. So for those people 188 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: experience a complication of pregnancy in the first trimester, we 189 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 2: have an early pregnancy service at Royal Darwin Hospital. Next 190 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 2: day bookings are usually available from Mondays to Fridays. We 191 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: have a session running right now actually, and for women 192 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 2: who have had previous complications. This is a journey. This 193 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 2: war from what you're reading, and Rachel, I'm really really 194 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 2: sorry that this is something you've experienced. You know, this 195 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 2: is this is not you know, a low risk pregnancy. 196 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 2: I think anybody would would would agree with that, and 197 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 2: so the public service would absolutely be available and for 198 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 2: all GPS I think who might also be listening. Our 199 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,319 Speaker 2: anti natal clinic referrals are absolutely open for these high 200 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 2: risk pregnancies, for counseling, for discussions and for services in 201 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 2: first trimester for complications high risk absolutely. 202 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: Doctor Chin. Before I let you go, I mean, what 203 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: is your advice for territory mums this morning, For the 204 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: number of mums that have been in contact with us 205 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: who are really quite worried about not being able to 206 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: get in for you know, for various scans and feeling 207 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: a bit uneasy about this whole process. Some going to 208 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 1: the extreme of traveling all the way to Catherine. 209 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. So the first thing I'd say is if you 210 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 2: if you're experiencing a complication of pregnancy, our doors are 211 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 2: always open. So for example, if you're expecting that you're pregnant, 212 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 2: you haven't had a scan yet, and you've got pain 213 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 2: or bleeding from the vagina, I'd absolutely encourage you to 214 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 2: connect with our services, either through your primary health provider 215 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 2: or in the case of emergency, through our emergency department. 216 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 2: That's the first thing. The second thing is for those 217 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: people with high risk pregnancies, I definitely encourage you to 218 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 2: go and see your GP and ensure that your GP 219 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 2: has put through the appropriate referral flagging the high risk 220 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 2: nature of your pregnancy to our anti natal clinic where 221 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 2: we not undergo our normal triaging processes. I think the 222 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: other thing is to think about avoiding delays in diagnosis. 223 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 2: So for example, for those people who think they might 224 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 2: be pregnant, Am I maybe pregnant? Could I maybe not 225 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 2: have I missed my period? My period might be coming 226 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 2: a little bit later. Definitely get those beat eight CG 227 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 2: tests done if you're thinking about getting a scan, so 228 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 2: that there isn't a delay to get that referral so 229 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 2: you can get your foot in the door early. And 230 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 2: for most people it's it's ideal that we're getting scanned 231 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: around the six weeks seven week mark. But for otherwise normal, young, fit, 232 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 2: healthy young women with uncomplicated pregnancies, it's okay to get 233 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 2: that scan done a few weeks later, seven eight weeks, 234 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 2: for example, nine weeks to get the size of the baby, 235 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 2: to get the dates right, to know exactly what's going on. 236 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 2: There's negligible harm or risk associated with that. I really 237 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 2: wouldn't call it a clinical delay in using those words, 238 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 2: And certainly for those people who who have some stress 239 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 2: and anxiety, I'd like to reassure them that this this 240 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 2: scan by one or two or three weeks is really 241 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 2: something that's part and parcel of how things are going 242 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 2: at the moment, and really we're here to reassure people 243 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 2: that that that's not going to be harmful for them 244 00:12:57,280 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 2: or their pregnancies. 245 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: Well. MT Health medic called co director of Obstetrics and 246 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: Gynecology doctor Jeremy Chin, I really appreciate your time this morning. 247 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,839 Speaker 1: I know you're an incredibly busy man, so we appreciate 248 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: your time and appreciate you really reassuring the women of 249 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 1: the territory today, no. 250 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 2: Worries, it's being a pleasure. 251 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: Thank you.