1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: Well, we have covered extensively over the last twenty four 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: hours the fact that maternity services are going to be 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: closed at the Darwin Private Hospital in April. We've heard 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 1: from mums who have had their babies at the Darwin 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: Private Hospital. We spoke to Cath Hatcher yesterday from the 6 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: Nursing our Midwifree Union. Joining me on the line right 7 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: now is the Australian Medical Association's NT Branch president, Doctor 8 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: Robert Parker. Good morning, doctor Parker. 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 2: Morning kby doctor Parker. 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: What was your reaction when you learned this news? 11 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 2: Well, I learned it when I ran into doctor Jenny 12 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: Mitchell in the corridor at Dawn Private and she was 13 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 2: in floods of tears just having been told by the 14 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 2: hospital management that her basically her practice was ceasing you 15 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 2: in a couple of months. And I mean she wasn't 16 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: crying for herself, she was crying for all the mothers 17 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: who tell them that she couldn't provide their care because 18 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: the service was closing down. And I mean the yeah, 19 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 2: and I mean my understanding has been that the Minister 20 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 2: and the Health Department and Healthscape have known this for 21 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 2: the last six months. Apparently six months ago Healthcape wanted 22 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: to shot the maternity services. The Minister stopped from doing it, 23 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 2: which I think was good, you know, obviously maybe hoping 24 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 2: that things have changed. But of course in that six months, 25 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 2: doctor Mitchell has taken on more patients, all expecting to deliver, 26 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: you know, within the private system, and it's just it's 27 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 2: just been terrible for her and terrible for those patients, 28 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 2: a really bad outcome. And it was a pity that 29 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 2: I suppose that we didn't have more knowledge so that 30 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: those mothers could have made other arrangements. 31 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, your spot on. We we got in contact with 32 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: doctor Jenny Mitchell yesterday. We weren't able to get her 33 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: on the show. But what you've said, you know, articulates 34 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: exactly her concerns. What's going to happen now for those 35 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: obstetricians from your perspective, Doctor Parker, lot, are they can 36 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: they still can they still care for patients, but then 37 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: have to go through like I'm through the public system. 38 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm thinking out loud here, I've got no 39 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: real idea. 40 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: Well, I suppose the department will have to I mean 41 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 2: they may be able to continue their practice within Darwen, 42 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 2: within the public hospital and Obviously the women they've got 43 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 2: who are going to deliver, I mean, the women are 44 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: going to deliver baby somewhere, and obviously roll down is 45 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: going to be it. So hopefully they may be able 46 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 2: to have a practice within the public hospital allows them 47 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:32,239 Speaker 2: to look after their patients safely. 48 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: In terms of the pressure that it could potentially then 49 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 1: put on the public system, I mean we've been told 50 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: it's between three hundred and three hundred and fifty women 51 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: having their bubbs over recent years through the Darwin Private Hospital. 52 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: What kind of strain do you think that will put 53 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: on the public system. 54 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: Well, it's just the further pressure of the public system 55 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 2: does a need. I mean you and I have been 56 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 2: talking about this over a number of years about how 57 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 2: the Territory hospitals and some of the busiest hospitals in Australia. 58 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: So really this is just another further pressure that the 59 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: hospital doesn't need in the current circumstance. 60 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: Somebody has just messaged through and said could the Northern 61 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 1: Territory government potentially look at a public private partnership model 62 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: going forward for that maternity delivery. 63 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 2: Well, they have done that in a long time ago, 64 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 2: when I was a resident of the hospital, I worked 65 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,359 Speaker 2: in the obstetric department when they did have that sort 66 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 2: of system, right, But things have moved on. Things have 67 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: moved on. You know, the private hospital has been running 68 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: their private maternity services for many years and there's been 69 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: an expectation. I mean, for example, it's been noted that 70 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 2: I think doctor Zorbis has said that it's going to 71 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: be very difficult. People who want private of cetric care 72 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 2: may have now travel thousands of kilometers to a coubn 73 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: sea that they're away from family and president. Also, you know, 74 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 2: the defense sector is very reliant on the private of 75 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: cetric care provided and it may be quite difficult to 76 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: attract people to work in the Territory with defense because 77 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: that private of cetric care is no longer available. 78 00:03:56,040 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, Dr Parker, we did here from the Minister Health, 79 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: Steve Edgington this morning. He said there were one hundred 80 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: and fourteen expectant families affected by the closure on the 81 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: seventeenth of April and that the government's going to offer 82 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: support and that continuation of care now. He said that 83 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Health's dedicated clinicians and midwives at the 84 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: Maternity Services Unit are going to work with those expectant 85 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: families to transition their care to Royal Darwin Hospital and 86 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: that two of these so basically anti Health's working in 87 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 1: partnership with major private insurance providers to develop alternative private 88 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: maternity models and experiences which will complement the current public 89 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: service at Royal Darwin Hospital. Now, two of these options 90 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: include a luxury post natal maternity retreat and a returning 91 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: home Sooner package. I mean, what do you make of that? 92 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: Well, again, I would have hoped the Minister might offer 93 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: an apology to their mothers were affected by this because 94 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: a kain they in good faith negotiated a private fact 95 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 2: private fraternity paggage and unaware that the Minister knew that 96 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: this was going to be this was going to close 97 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 2: the six months time for a month's time. So I 98 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: would hope that they might be apologized to because but look, 99 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 2: you know, it's all a bit of a bit of 100 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 2: fluff on the or bit of iceing on the cake. 101 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 2: I think the problem is the cake itself. 102 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's a fair call. I mean, doctor 103 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: Parker in terms of the impact that this is going 104 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: to have on staff. I mean, we spoke to Cath 105 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:36,599 Speaker 1: Hatcher about this yesterday My understanding is that you know 106 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: there are like there's a midwife that's that's been in 107 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 1: there for I understand over thirty years. I know that 108 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 1: there would be a lot of long term staff. It 109 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 1: must be a horrendous sort of thing for them at 110 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: this point thinking. 111 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: What's next, well exactly, and it's devastating, you know, a 112 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 2: devastating issue for people to put a lot of their 113 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: energy and and work into providing a very high quality service. 114 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 2: You know, and doctor Mitchell, we all know doctor Mitchell, 115 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 2: who's you know, that's exactly who She's provided a very 116 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 2: high quality of cetric practice for a whole range of 117 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 2: territories over many years, and it's devastating for her as well. 118 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: Doctor Parker, what do you think needs to happen or 119 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: what could happen in your opinion? 120 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: Well, again, there's wider issues here about Healthscope. I mean 121 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: they've set there et ceterric service in Hobart as well. 122 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 2: There's a lot of concern I suppose about the continuing 123 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 2: viability of health Scope with them suffering over a half 124 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: a billion dollars last year last year with Brookfield managing them, 125 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: and we have the AMA have been a discussion with 126 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 2: the Department about potentially other organizations running though in private 127 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 2: it doesn't necessarily have to be Healthscope who run them. 128 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 2: There could be another organization that runs them. It runs 129 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 2: the hospital and we have the AMA have been suggesting 130 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: to the Department, but they might look at, you know, 131 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 2: ways like organize that so the hospital is viable, I think, 132 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 2: and once again providing service as a territory in his need. 133 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 2: There's a bigger issue though, and that's your that's your 134 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: reflects the national interest and the fact that the Foreign 135 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: Investment Review Board allowed Brookfield to take over a very 136 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 2: significant health organization of Australia. Someone pointed out they wouldn't 137 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: if they wanted to Brookfield want to take over one 138 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: of the power stations, they wouldn't have been allowed to 139 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 2: because the power stations are considered the essential infrastructure. But 140 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: they're allowed to take over a health organization basically run 141 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 2: up a half billion dollar debt and then basically forced 142 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 2: the public health system to accommodate that. I mean, you'd 143 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 2: think that the Federal Treasurer and Treasurer and the might 144 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 2: think more broadly about the potential implications of allowing a 145 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 2: large organizations to take up a realty essential Australian infrastructure. 146 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: Well, look, we've got Luke Gosling on hopefully in the 147 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: next few minutes, so we'll ask him that and and 148 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: we'll certainly try to talk more about the doctor Parker. 149 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: I mean, it's yeah, it's it's I don't know, I 150 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: don't have the right words. I think it's just another 151 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:05,679 Speaker 1: thing that people are really upset about. 152 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. Well, I'm actually at a meeting zone 153 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 2: Sydney on psychosocial support and I mean, obviously the midwives, 154 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 2: doctor Mitchell are very deserving of that at the moment, 155 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 2: and the other opposition working at darn Privacs deserving that 156 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 2: the way this has all been handled. 157 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, Parker, we always appreciate your time. Please pass on, 158 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: you know, if you are talking to those staff, please 159 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: pass on our well wishes. I really feel for them. 160 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how they must be feeling at this 161 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: point in time. 162 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 2: Okay, having to do it, Okadie 163 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: Could think, thanks so much, appreciate it.