1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: But look, there is so much to discuss this morning. 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: Joining me live on the line right now. It is 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Kathleen Gazola. Good morning to you. 4 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 2: Kat Hey wolfee Hey, doing very. 5 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: Well now you're on maternity leave. Some of our listeners 6 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: will remember from the week that was that obviously you 7 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: went on Matt Lee. If you've had little baby Nick? 8 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: How old's Nick? Now? 9 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 2: So Nick is almost five months old and you might 10 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: hear him gurgling in the background, hopefully not crying during 11 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 2: our chats. 12 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: That's okay, He's a beautiful little fella. Now, kat tell 13 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,919 Speaker 1: me you did go through the private hospital system. How 14 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: disappointed are you to hear that this services is going 15 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: to be no longer as of the seventeenth of April. 16 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think this is absolutely devastating, not just for 17 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 2: Territory Women, Dare and women, but all the amazing midwives 18 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: and doctors and health staff that work in that maternity ward. 19 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 2: I've had both my babies there, and the main reason 20 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 2: why I went through the private system is before both 21 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 2: my babies, I had two miscarriages and I obviously lost 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: my mum about ten years ago, and so I wanted 23 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,119 Speaker 2: and frankly needed that extra support that you can get 24 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: through the private system of having the same obstetrician and 25 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 2: then the extra after care that you receive through the 26 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 2: hospital and staying longer. That's not to detract from the 27 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 2: amazing work that happens at RDH and the ward there. 28 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 2: I have many friends that have had incredible experiences through 29 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: that hospital. But I needed that extra support going through 30 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 2: the whole process of having my babies, that's for sure. 31 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: And I actually had extra complications with Nick that I 32 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 2: was actually had an extra week of bed rest prior 33 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: to giving birth, so I was in hospital for two 34 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 2: weeks for his experience. So and I was looked after 35 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: just amazingly. 36 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: Well, this is the thing, right you know, you want 37 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: to be able to have that choice now, as you've said, 38 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: you know, for you they are there's high risks involved, 39 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: and there's a lot of factors involved. And being able 40 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: to be you know, to be looked after by your obstetrician, 41 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: knowing who you are going to see and knowing that 42 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: you're going to go through the private hospital, is, you know, 43 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: is a choice that you made And quite frankly, are 44 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: you paid for Yeah? 45 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: Exactly. Obviously I pay that extra through my private health 46 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: insurance to get that private health cover, which I know 47 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: a lot of people, especially at the moment with the 48 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: cost of living, just simply cannot afford. And of course 49 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: it is expensive to do, but ultimately that was my 50 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: choice and it worked out well for me because ultimately 51 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: to have Nick, I was on bed rest for the 52 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: week prior and then did have my waters break early, 53 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 2: which is what they were concerned about, which could have 54 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 2: been extremely serious had I not been in hospital and 55 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 2: have acts quickly to my doctor to have that emergency 56 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 2: season that I ended up having. So you know, that 57 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 2: was an extra concern in my mind that I didn't 58 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: have to have, which, as you know Wolfe and many 59 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 2: women out there having a baby and going through the 60 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 2: process and everything before and afterwards, it can be an 61 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 2: extremely anxious period. And having two miscarriages myself, yep, you 62 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 2: know that was very important to have that extra care. 63 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: Absolutely absolutely, and you know you want to be able 64 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: to have that option. I mean, it's pretty devastating news. 65 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how expectant mothers who were preparing to 66 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: go through the private system this year must be feeling. 67 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: I mean, we both know, like you touched on Den, 68 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: it's an anxious time, even if you have a pregnancy 69 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: without complications, but it is an anxious time regardless. 70 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And I mean I'd heard this rumor when Nick 71 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: was six weeks old and had popped into the hospital 72 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: for my six week check. And I know for a 73 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 2: fact that my doctor's office was getting so many phone 74 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 2: calls from anxious pregnant women and women who you know, 75 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: we're going through IVF or were preparing to begin that 76 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 2: journey of what is happening. And that was obviously during 77 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 2: the whole conversation between health Scope and Booper of that 78 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 2: contract being ripped up. So once that temporary fix was made, 79 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: there was probably a side of relief. And now this 80 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: massive bombshell, it's absolutely terrible and it's just yeah, yeah, 81 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 2: sadly another thing of the Northern Territory has to cop 82 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 2: which we really shouldn't. 83 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 1: That's how it feels, right. You think to yourself, we 84 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: are a capital city of Australia. How are we in 85 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: this situation? 86 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 2: Exactly? And I mean that Ward has been there for 87 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 2: almost forty years. I think I was born during the 88 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: first year of its operation in eighty eight. And in fact, 89 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: there is a midwife there that was working that helped 90 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: deliver me, that was there during my process for both 91 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: my babies, So you know, it has a long history 92 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: there and a big connection to Darwin and many people 93 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 2: here who have chosen to stay in the Northern Tyner. 94 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. Oh that's a beautiful story. Cat Now I'm aware 95 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 1: of that already obviously because we're good friends. But you 96 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: know the fact that there is a midwife there who's 97 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 1: been there for that long. I mean, you feel for 98 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: people right now. You feel for families expecting to have 99 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: their babies that were planning to go through the private hospital, 100 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: and you feel for those nurses, those midwives, the obstetricians, everybody, 101 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: because it's so uncertain at this point. 102 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, and the whole process of having a baby 103 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: can provide lots of those uncertainties anyway. You're worried about 104 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: what is happening inside your body and for that little human. 105 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: So I really really do hope that the governments can 106 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 2: figure something out to have that jo because it could 107 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 2: potentially be another reason why people leave. 108 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 1: Definitely, yep, Kat, I agree with you. Thank you so 109 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: much for having a quick chat with us this morning, 110 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: and thank you to baby Nikki for behaving himself in 111 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: the background there too. 112 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, give me lots of smiles for Auntie will love. 113 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: It, love it. Thanks Kat, we'll talk to you soon. 114 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 1: Thank you.