1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Yesterday we spoke to territory women who are seriously concerned 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: about the ending of private maternity services at the Darwin Hospital. 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: The Darwin Private Hospital now the hospital announced the closure 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: of its maternity ward by June sixth this year. The 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: organizers of a petition opposing the closure say that the decision, 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: which was made by the private operator health Scope, is 7 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: going to leave expectant mothers and families across the Northern 8 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: Territory without a choice of how they. 9 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: Can access maternity care. 10 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: Now, they say it's more than a health care shift, 11 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: it is a blow to women's rights, family planning and 12 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: the future of Darwin as a liveable city. The Health Minister, 13 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: Steve Edgington joins me in the studio. Good morning to 14 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: your minister. 15 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie, and good morning to all the listeners. 16 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 2: Good to have you on the show. 17 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: I know we've got so many questions from Northern Territory women. 18 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: So first off I'll ask these services at Darwin Private 19 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: Hospital they're set to end in June. Where are things 20 00:00:57,640 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: at with the planning for that change? 21 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,959 Speaker 3: Katie, there's a look. Firstly, I want to reassure all 22 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,559 Speaker 3: expectant mothers that there's been a huge amount of work 23 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 3: going on through nt Health, and what I want to 24 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 3: reassure all expectant mothers and families is that these packages 25 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 3: that I've spoken previously about, the luxury post natal maternity 26 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 3: retreat in a Dale and boutique hotel, but also the 27 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 3: returning home to Returning Home Sooner package, all of those 28 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 3: are ready to be confirmed. And when I say ready 29 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 3: to be confirmed, what I'm getting at is that nt 30 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 3: health has had ongoing conversations with the health insurers. So 31 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 3: when we talk about them, Medibank, Booper, the Australian Health 32 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 3: Service Alliance have already reassured nt Health that these packages 33 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 3: are ensurable. 34 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: So Minister, which hotel is it going to be? Where 35 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: are women going to be able to stay? 36 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I can't announce that to you yet, but the 37 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 3: conversations that I've had with nt Health, my understanding and 38 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 3: talking about this is that we should be in a 39 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 3: position by next week to announce where this hotel will be. 40 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 3: There's been a lot of procurement processes going on in 41 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 3: the background. These are the things that are commercially in 42 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 3: confidence until we can announce them. 43 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: So the conversation is definitely still happening. 44 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: Now, in terms of the twenty four to seven maternity support, 45 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: whether women are going to this post natal maternity retreat 46 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: or whether they're going home, what exactly is that going 47 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 1: to entail. 48 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 3: So that will entail having the option. Now, let's make 49 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 3: it clear that women aren't being sent off to this retreat. 50 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 3: They'll need to stay in hospital if there's medical concerns 51 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 3: about the mother or the baby. So moving somebody to 52 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 3: or giving the option of a private health the patient 53 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 3: going to this facility, that's a choice for that mother. 54 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 3: So that will involve twenty four hour services in twenty 55 00:02:57,880 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 3: four to seven. 56 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: Is it going to be a nurse able to care like, 57 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: able to check on those women twenty four to seven, 58 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: or is it going to be over a phone line? 59 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: What's it going to look like? 60 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 3: What it will involve is a planned, scheduled visits by 61 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 3: the midwife. And as we move forward, what we're hoping 62 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 3: to have in place is a private arrangement where we 63 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 3: can have midwives through a private arrangement, ensurable process where 64 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 3: midwives can go and attend that hospital. But in the meantime, 65 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 3: we already have a domicillary care midwives that go to 66 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 3: homes every day of the week, So that will continue what. 67 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: Happens for those women if something happens outside of those 68 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: planned scheduled visits. Because what they were saying yesterday on 69 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: the show, and what they've raised with me, is that 70 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: is there a twenty four to seven phone line that 71 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: they can call, Is there somebody that's going to be 72 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: available should an emergency arise. All of those things that 73 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: you would usually have if you were at a hospital, 74 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: or if you were staying at the private hospital for 75 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: seven days post birth. 76 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 3: All of those are available. There will certainly be phone 77 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 3: contact with a midwife. We have midwife on twenty four 78 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 3: hours a day, seven days a week. 79 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 2: That's a definite. 80 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 3: That's a definite. They'll be able to contact a midwife 81 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 3: and have that conversation with a midwife. What we will 82 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 3: have is planned visits to visit the mother and baby 83 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 3: in that private luxury retreat. 84 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: Now, one of our one of the expectant mums, got 85 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: in contact with us yesterday and said, Katie, I am 86 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: being told that if there is a visit required outside 87 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: of the planned visits, or if there is assistance required 88 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: outside of those planned visits, then I'm either going to 89 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: have to contact my GP or I am going to 90 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: have to present to the emergency ward at the hospital. 91 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 2: Is that correct. 92 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 3: There's a whole range of options of ailable and that's 93 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 3: the twenty four to seven contact with a midwife. There 94 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 3: will be patients that have ongoing contact with their GP 95 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 3: or their obstetrician if there was an emergency, and this 96 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 3: could happen anywhere, not just in a private luxury retreat. 97 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 3: Of course, Saint John's are available twenty four to seven. 98 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I guess. 99 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: So that's a very different scenario to what women going 100 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: through the private system would be receiving at the moment. 101 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: So if you're in that private system, the majority of 102 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: people I know that have had their bubs there, you'll 103 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: be in hospital for seven days afterwards, maybe a little 104 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: bit less if everything's good and you're able to leave sooner. 105 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 1: Maybe a little bit longer if you've had to have 106 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: an emergency cesarean, or if you've wound up with preer 107 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: clampsy or some other condition that may I mean, preer 108 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: clamsy is obviously pre but if you wind up with 109 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: another condition, that means that you're going to need care 110 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: for longer. Now I get what you're saying that they're 111 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 1: going to be able to say, stay in the public 112 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: hospital for longer if required. But what happens for those 113 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: women that maybe choose to go to the post nadal 114 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: maternity retreat and then something does happen while they're in there. 115 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: They can obviously call that twenty four hour service, but 116 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: is somebody going to be able to come out to 117 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: them if that's what's needed. 118 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 3: The midwife, As I said, we already have the domicillary 119 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 3: care midwives in play now. They visit homes on a 120 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 3: regular basis to work with families, work with mothers and 121 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 3: the baby, so that service will continue. 122 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: And if an emergency arises. 123 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 3: If an emergency arises, like any emergency, that midwife will 124 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 3: make the decisions that are needed in consultation with the mother. 125 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: All right, Minister, I want to take you through a 126 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: couple of calls that we had yesterday from two expectant mums. 127 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: First off, let's take a listen to what Jess had 128 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: to say on the showing. 129 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 4: About the unsafe birth happening at the public hospital. I 130 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 4: think the biggest concern is that we've got anti government 131 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 4: saying that everything's safe, everything's fine, nothing to see here, 132 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 4: and yet we're still hearing about these things and it 133 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 4: isn't just about the birth. It's about women not being 134 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 4: able to receive any kind of care in the lead 135 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 4: up to their births as well. 136 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 2: So that is Jess on the show yesterday. 137 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: I want to ask you, are there women that are 138 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: giving birth in the halls currently at Royal Darwin Hospital. 139 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 3: Certainly not, and I want to reassure listeners that mothers 140 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 3: aren't giving birth in the corridors of the Royal Darwen Hospital. 141 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 3: What we have is around about seventy midwives and thirteen 142 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 3: obstetricians working through not only in the maternity ward, but 143 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 3: there's other support staff there as well. We do know 144 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 3: that mothers will arrive at the hospital at various stages 145 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 3: of labor, but. 146 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: So there might be women laboring in the halls. 147 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 3: There's no doubt that that's a strong possibility. Women arrive 148 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 3: at the hospital at various stages in labor. What I 149 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 3: can reassure from the information that I have is that 150 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 3: no babies have been born in the corridor of the 151 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 3: Royal Darwen Hospital. 152 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: Minister, are we in a situation where we're going to 153 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: have enough staff at Darwin Private Hospital to deal with 154 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: the increase that we are expecting as a result of 155 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: women no longer being able to give birth at the 156 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: private hospital. 157 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 3: Look, the information we have. The information that I have 158 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 3: is that we've red about two thousand babies a year 159 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 3: are born at the Royal Daren Hospital leading up to 160 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 3: the closure of the private private hospital here in Darwen. 161 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 3: What we've been told is that there's around about two 162 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 3: hundred and fifty babies born every year in the private hospital. 163 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 3: The increase for the Royal Daren Hospital can be absorbed. 164 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 3: We're talking about a ten to fifteen percent increase in 165 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 3: the number of babies being born in Darwen. I've been 166 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 3: reassured that the system can cope with a ten to 167 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 3: fifteen percent increase and in fact, what it's actually taking 168 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 3: back to is pre COVID. These are the numbers that 169 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 3: we're actually dealing with through the RULD. 170 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: We spoke to Cath Hatcher yesterday from the Nursing and 171 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: Midway for re Union. She says that there is going 172 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: to be additional staff required. She said that it is 173 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: obviously going to mean, you know, like that it is 174 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,719 Speaker 1: additional work for the nurses and midwives. 175 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 2: At the Royal dah And Hospital. 176 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: So is there going to be any additional funding for 177 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: Royal dah And Hospital to cope with that. 178 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 3: What we're working through at the moment is if we 179 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,839 Speaker 3: look at the staffing issues first. As I said, we've 180 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 3: got around about seventy midwives working at the Royal daal 181 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 3: In Hospital. Are there enough staff across the board? What 182 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 3: we do know is that there's a shortage of midwives 183 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 3: and nurses right across not only Australia but globally, so 184 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 3: there's always that case where there may be a shortage 185 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 3: of staff. What we're constantly doing is recruiting to those 186 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 3: positions and we are offering opportunities for midwives currently working 187 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 3: through the daal And private hospital to come over to 188 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 3: the public hospital. So those conversations are ongoing and those 189 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 3: opportunities will arise. 190 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: All right, Minister, I want to take you to a 191 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: call that we received yesterday from Tessa, another expectant mum. 192 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 2: Take a listen to what she had to say. 193 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 5: I'm going to be a guinea pigs for the new 194 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 5: proposed private packages and from the information I have from 195 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 5: Nteer Health, a lot of what they have been talking 196 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 5: about is not going to be in place for June. 197 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 5: They're still obviously working through a lot of that, trying 198 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:10,839 Speaker 5: to get resources and sort of to hear over the 199 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 5: last few days that the opportunity has been there for 200 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 5: the government to approach the federal government for some additional 201 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 5: funding and they haven't taken that up. I mean, this 202 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 5: issue was alive well before the federal government went into 203 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 5: caretaker mode. So when the minister says we've approached them now, 204 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 5: but we couldn't because it was in caretakeo mode. The 205 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 5: announcement was made in February, the Health Department and the 206 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 5: Minister have known that this is coming since September last year. 207 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:35,559 Speaker 2: Minister, what do you say to. 208 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 3: That, Well, there's been on look, there's been ongoing conversations Codie. 209 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 3: So having written to the Federal minister, let me just 210 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 3: go back a step. There has been ongoing conversations between 211 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 3: Northern Territory Health and the Federal Health Department. Those conversations 212 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 3: have been specifically around how can we improve the infrastructure 213 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 3: at the Darwin Darwin Hospital. Conversations have been going on 214 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 3: well before the election. In fact, those conversations started back 215 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 3: in February. There has been a submission sent to the 216 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 3: Federal Department of Health back in March, so all of that. 217 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 3: One of those one of those submissions involves a proposal 218 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 3: for thirty five million dollars to perform substantial upgrades to 219 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 3: ensure a co location of services and to improve the 220 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:28,079 Speaker 3: overall makeup of the maternity ward at the Royal Dalen Hospital. 221 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 3: There has been a second option of ten million dollars. 222 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 2: But the real second option entail well, the. 223 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 3: Second option is a smaller one, but that would only 224 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 3: allow for minor new works to maximize patient flow, upgraded furniture, 225 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 3: and some more aesthetics type of improvement. So the thirty 226 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:48,839 Speaker 3: five million dollars is what we've proposed to the Federal Department. 227 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 3: That proposal was made back in March. 228 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: Look, why, I mean, you've known about this since the 229 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,959 Speaker 1: end of last year, haven't you, So why only that 230 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: proposal in March. 231 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 3: So let's if we just take a step back. Last 232 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,959 Speaker 3: year we were told of the possibility that the maternity 233 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 3: ward would close at the Darwen. 234 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: Privacy, So why not at that point start going, okay, 235 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: we need to prepare here. 236 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 3: We weren't given a date last year. We got a 237 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 3: date to earlier this year, and I think the first 238 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 3: date was a closure around April that's now been extended 239 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 3: to Dune the sixth. We do know that those services 240 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 3: will come to an end, So what we have done 241 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 3: is had those ongoing conversations with the Federal Department, which 242 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 3: were still. 243 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: Nowhere and it's closing June sixth. 244 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 3: We're talking about infrastructure upgrades. Infrastructure upgrades aren't going to 245 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 3: happen overnight. What we have been doing in the meantime 246 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 3: is ensuring that we've been working with the private insurers 247 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 3: to make sure that the services are ane. 248 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 2: I actually think. 249 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 1: We're talking about certainty for territory women, and we're talking 250 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: about certainty for women. 251 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 2: Who are really very worried. 252 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: That come June that you know that they're these what 253 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: you're proposing may not actually be in place. Can you guarantee, Tessa, 254 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: for example, that these services are going to be in 255 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 1: place come June, and that you might have a longer 256 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: term plan, but right now they are going to receive 257 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: the care that they that's require. 258 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 3: That's what I've previously said, Katie, is that we've spoken 259 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 3: to the private healthcare insurers. They've confirmed that those packages 260 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 3: are insurable. What I've said is that we will have 261 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 3: an announcement next week on where that private to private 262 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 3: hotel facility will. 263 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: Be in terms of the thirty five million dollars that 264 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: then has been requested. I mean, is there capacity here 265 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: for you know, for the Department of Health to potentially 266 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:45,079 Speaker 1: take over the ward that was previously being utilized at 267 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: the private hospital, I mean the infrastructures there in place. 268 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 2: Is that a possibility? 269 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 3: Those options have been looked at by the department. We 270 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 3: don't own that building its own, I don't even know 271 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 3: who owns that building, but it's not by an ent health. 272 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 3: What we've looked at is all the options and the 273 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 3: best option that we've come up with at this point 274 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 3: is an additional thirty five million from the federal government 275 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 3: to assist with upgrading the maternity ward at the Royal Dalnhull. 276 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 1: So would that mean additional beds? What will it mean 277 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: if you're able to get that. 278 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 3: What it would create is additional facilities to address the 279 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 3: most complex neonatal cases, even to assist with the brief parents. 280 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 3: So there's a whole range of upgrades that are needed. 281 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 3: It'd be better access to clinical management, but it would 282 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 3: also give us larger rooms, more rooms and have the 283 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 3: ability to extend those maternity services further than what we 284 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 3: have at the moment. 285 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: All right, Minister. 286 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: I had planned to ask you about mental health and 287 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: also about acacia, but we are being slammed by expectant 288 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: mums sending messages through, so I might get through a 289 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: couple of those. If that's okay. I've got one here 290 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: that says good morning, Katie. Can you please ask the 291 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: minister what arrangements are in place for mums who have 292 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: a C section. Given they're going to likely have to 293 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: remain in hospital for a few days. Their birth experience 294 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: therefore is going to be a public one. It sounds 295 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: like they're just offering a hotel stay for after care, 296 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: which can't see many people, which I can't see many 297 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: people actually wanting to take up. 298 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 2: Says that text. 299 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 3: When it comes to sea sections, that these are things 300 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 3: that I don't have the technical or the medical experience 301 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 3: to talk about. But what I can say is at 302 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 3: sea sections, as I said, we have over two thousand 303 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 3: babies born at the Royal dah And Hospital every year. 304 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 3: We have the expertise through midwives and obstetricians that deal 305 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 3: with these things on a daily basis. If somebody goes 306 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 3: in and has a sea section, they'll be provided with 307 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 3: the care and support to manage that term. 308 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: Look, I can say I had both my children via 309 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: the CEA section at Royal Darwin Hospital and received exceptional care. 310 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: But I guess the question being asked by these mums 311 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: who are paying thousands of dollars in private healthcare is 312 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: where are they going to have a bed? 313 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 3: There are beds at the hospital that it's not an issue. 314 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 3: We've previously spoken about allegations that babies have been born 315 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 3: in the corridor. What I can assure people is it 316 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 3: the care, the service. The midwives and the obstetricians at 317 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 3: the hospital are doing an incredible job and those that 318 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 3: may go in for a C section, they'll get the 319 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,239 Speaker 3: care and support that they need during. 320 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: That look and I would echo that I think the nurses, 321 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: the doctors, the midwives, everybody at the hospital does an 322 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: exceptional job. But the worry here is that as we're 323 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: going to see that increase, we are obviously going to 324 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: have women who may have a more complicated birth who 325 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: were expecting that they were going to be able to 326 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: go and have a private room somewhere else, or have 327 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: a private room at a hospital who are no longer 328 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: going to be able to do that, despite the fact 329 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: they're paying for it. 330 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 3: Look, Healthscope have decided to make a commercial decision to 331 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 3: withdraw their maternity services here in Darwin. As an anti 332 00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 3: health and as the Minister and the NTI Health Department, 333 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 3: we've been working very closely with the insurers to make 334 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 3: sure that we have alternative packages available. It's as much 335 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 3: as we would like to, we didn't make this decision, 336 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 3: but what we are trying to do is make sure 337 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 3: that every parent, every family has a good birthing experience 338 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 3: at the Royal Darmen Hospital. We can't replicate what the 339 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 3: private provider was previously provoked. 340 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: Now look another one here, Hi, Katie. People talking about 341 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: the fast striking of jobs for the Darwin Private Hospital 342 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: midwives to Royal Darwin Hospital. But how come they still 343 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: haven't heard anything about this application and the four week 344 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: deadline is tomorrow. There's still left in the dark and 345 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: have no updates at all. We're three weeks away, says 346 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: that text. 347 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 3: The advice I have is that those conversations are ongoing 348 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 3: and certainly if there's midwives at the private hospital, I 349 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 3: would encourage them to have those conversations with the public hospital. 350 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 3: But my understanding is that those conversations are ongoing and 351 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 3: there will be opportunities for any midwife that wants to 352 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 3: come over to the public system. Those opportunities will be 353 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:07,439 Speaker 3: there for that person. 354 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 1: Minister another one here. I understand these packages are coming in, 355 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: but will they be in effect by the time the 356 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: closure happens. Yes, they most definitely will be. 357 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 3: Yes, And as I said previously, I'm hoping to have 358 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 3: an announcement next week. I can confirm that the health 359 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 3: health ensurers, the healthcare providers have confirmed with nt Health 360 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 3: that these packages are ensurable. Next week we should have 361 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 3: further news on where that's luxury retret. 362 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: Now, if you have been in those discussions with the 363 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: federal government, why did Tasmania get the money and we 364 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: still haven't Well. 365 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 3: I'm not sure what Tasmania got there. I think it 366 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 3: was six million dollars. So what what we've been doing 367 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 3: is looking at what do we really need? Do we 368 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 3: need money to continue a service? What we're looking at 369 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 3: as an opportunity to to improve the experience from others 370 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 3: at the Royal day In Hospital that the proposal we've 371 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 3: put forward is for thirty five million dollars. You can't 372 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,199 Speaker 3: put those proposals together overnight. There's been a lot of 373 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 3: work put in to assess what are the real needs 374 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 3: at the Royal day In Hospital. We've put that in writing. 375 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 3: There's been those discussions with the Federal Health Department. Now 376 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 3: that the caretaker period has finished and we have a 377 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 3: new federal government, I've now written to the minister and 378 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 3: hope did you drop the ball. 379 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: There in terms of timing? Should you have done that sooner? 380 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 5: No? 381 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 3: No, there's been ongoing conversations with the departments. Certainly during 382 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 3: caretaker mode, which is what twenty eight days. You simply 383 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 3: can't have those conversations. The opportunity is now to confirm 384 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,919 Speaker 3: the conversations that have been going on between Antihealth and 385 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 3: the Federal Department, and hopefully we'll hear from the Federal 386 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 3: minister very shortly. 387 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: Ministered, just really quickly before I let you go. In 388 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: this petition that Territory Families that these Territory Women and 389 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 1: Families have launched, they are asking for the government to 390 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:04,400 Speaker 1: act now. They want to launch a central information hub 391 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: where people are able to get transparent, regularly updated online information. 392 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,959 Speaker 1: They want you to host a public forum so that 393 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: you can explain to everybody exactly what's going on, and 394 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: they want you to commit to finding a long term solution. 395 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,640 Speaker 1: Are you prepared to enact those requests? 396 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 3: As I said previously, Katie, what I want to do 397 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 3: is reassure all of those expectant mothers that we have 398 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 3: created the website. There's a lot of information on that 399 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 3: website now that is being run by Into Health that 400 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 3: provides a whole range of updates and covers most of 401 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 3: the issues that I've just spoken about. So all of 402 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 3: that information is up on the website, that website. 403 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 2: Would you host a public forum with them? 404 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 3: I don't know how many there are altogether, but what 405 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 3: I'd like to do, and I've encouraged I reckon. 406 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 2: We've got lots of a messaging this morning, Steve. 407 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:56,160 Speaker 3: Look, look, I'm happy to meet with the mothers. Whether 408 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 3: that needs to be done through a public forum. I've 409 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 3: certainly encouraged any mother's concerned about what's happening to write 410 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 3: directly to me at Minister dot Edgington at NT dot gov. 411 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: DoD Are you I used to go to I used 412 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: to go to a Tuesday early birds mother's group. I 413 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 1: think it was called I reckon we need a coffee 414 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 1: with the Health Minister soon to be Mother's group. 415 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 3: Much to do that. 416 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:17,120 Speaker 2: Well, it might be. 417 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: Something that is worth doing because it does sound as 418 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: though these pregnant mums, mums that are wanting to have babies, 419 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: they've still got a lot of questions and they're really worried, 420 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: you know, they're concerned because the birth and journey that 421 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:29,120 Speaker 1: they thought. 422 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 2: They were going to be on has changed. Now. 423 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: I know that the staff at Royal Darwin Hospital do 424 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: an incredible job and nobody is disputing that, but there 425 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 1: are still so many mums that are feeling concerned. They're 426 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: feeling you know, anxious, they're feeling worried that they're going 427 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: to be guinea pigs as this transition changes over. So 428 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: it might be worth, you know, having a coffee with 429 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: this group of months. 430 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 3: That's something that I'm happy to consider finding the time 431 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 3: to do that, but I know it's important and I 432 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,879 Speaker 3: want to reassure all expectant mothers that we are taking 433 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 3: the action that we've said that we've been doing right. 434 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 3: As soon as we became aware of what's going on, 435 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 3: as soon as we had a closure date, we've been 436 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:12,199 Speaker 3: working extremely hard to make sure that these packages are available. 437 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:14,919 Speaker 3: All of that information is now up on the website 438 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 3: and what I'll be encouraging NTI Health to do is 439 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 3: to make contact with those mothers. And we need to 440 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,879 Speaker 3: be careful because we can only contact the mothers that 441 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:28,400 Speaker 3: Healthscope have been able to give information too, So I reckon. 442 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 2: I be able to get a few of them auganize. 443 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 3: For if mothers want to share their information, that's with 444 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,919 Speaker 3: the private provider with nt Health more than happy to 445 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:37,480 Speaker 3: speak to them. 446 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: Minister for Health Steve Edgington really appreciate your time. We'll 447 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: get you on another time to talk about the mental 448 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: health announcement and also Akasha, thank you, Thanks Katien. 449 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 5: Good morning to everyone.