1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: You are listening to mix one O four nine's three 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: sixty Now if you want to call through this morning 3 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: eight nine four one one oh four nine, you can 4 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: send us a message as well. Zero four double nine 5 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 1: seven double one three six zero. Now, as we just 6 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: discussed with the Chief Minister, we know the Our Birth, 7 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: Our Voice, a community led forum for women to share 8 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: their stories about what families need from maternity services in 9 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, was held over the weekend and not 10 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: just women attending families, health professionals joining us on the 11 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,279 Speaker 1: line to talk more about how it all went. One 12 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: of the organizers, Tessa Sislosky, joins me on the line. 13 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Tessa. 14 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 15 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: How are you going to think were really well? Tessa? 16 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: How did it go on the weekend? Talk us through 17 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: who was there and what you heard. 18 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 2: We had a really impressive turnout, Katie. We had over 19 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 2: one hundred people, including our special guests, if I can 20 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: call them that, And I'd really like to thank the 21 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 2: politicians who joined us. Luke Goslin flew back from Canberra 22 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: especially to attend the event. We had Joe Hersey on 23 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 2: behalf of the Health Minister there and Clinton Howe also 24 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 2: from the CLP Selena Uber, Leader of the Opposition kat McNamara, 25 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 2: and we also had the Chief Executive Officer of Anti 26 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,960 Speaker 2: Health Chris Hosking, and various other rd H executives. So 27 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: it was a really really wonderful turnout. And along with 28 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 2: that we had lots of mums and families and healthcare 29 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 2: workers as well well well. 30 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 1: And they're the ones that you really are wanting to 31 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: hear from, and they're the ones that all of those 32 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 1: politicians really need to be hearing. Tessa, what exactly did 33 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: they hear on the. 34 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 2: Weekend, So, Katie, they heard from a number of mums 35 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: who shared their stories and some of those stories were 36 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 2: really traumatic and heartbreaking, and I think it touched on 37 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: everybody to hear those stories from the mums themselves. So 38 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: there was discussion about obviously the ongoing issues that are 39 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: faced at RDH in terms of staffing and resources, and 40 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 2: in particular a couple of really key crucial messages that 41 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 2: came through is perinatal mental health support is really lacking 42 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 2: and basically there's just nowhere for mums to go if 43 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: they need to be readmitted for mental health support after 44 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 2: having their baby. There's confusion about whether they should be 45 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: admitted to Cality ward where they can't take their baby. 46 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 2: Their baby has to be taken from them, or whether 47 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 2: they get admitted back to the Jabbaru ward where their 48 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 2: baby can stay. But there apparently is some confusion about 49 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 2: how long that can be in place. For mums are 50 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 2: being told that they need to discharge after six weeks, 51 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: so if it's after that point in time, there's just 52 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 2: nowhere for them to go. So that was really concerning. 53 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 2: And also the bereathement care for mothers who suffered infant loss. Again, 54 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 2: it just really highlighted that the resources and support services 55 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 2: are lacking and such a crucial and traumatic timete and 56 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: that people carry that trauma with them forever through to 57 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: their future birth. That's right forever, but you know, for 58 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: their future pregnant season birth. So absolutely, I really hope 59 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: that hearing those stories from those mums that are affected, 60 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: you know, we will drive some change there. 61 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: I hope so. And you know, I take my hat 62 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: off to all of you ladies that are really driving this. 63 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: I know that I believe you are going to make 64 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: a difference. You know, I think that when you're standing 65 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: up and you're making sure that your voices are heard, 66 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: and you're making sure that those stories, even though they're 67 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: incredibly painful. I would imagine for a number of those 68 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: women sharing them, you know that they're showing that bravery 69 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: to stand up and tell those stories so that our 70 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: politicians do here so that we can enforce some change. 71 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: I mean, Tessa, from your perspective, were there some positives 72 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: to come out of the event in terms of those 73 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: discussions with the federal and Northern Territory Health counterpart, There. 74 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 2: Were some positives, Katie. One of those positives was that 75 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: we did here that there is the money coming from 76 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: the federal government. The amount remains in dispute, and we 77 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 2: have spoken after the event to Luke Gosling and he 78 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 2: has reiterated to us that there is still information outstanding 79 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 2: from nt Health. So we're really hopeful that having been 80 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 2: there on Saturday and heard some of these stories, anti 81 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 2: Health can provide the information that is outstanding. But regardless 82 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 2: of that, we are definitely going to get some money. 83 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 2: It's just a question of how much and then what 84 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 2: we can do with that. And the other positive was 85 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: that Chris Hoskin did confirm that mcgrad Nichols, who were 86 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,359 Speaker 2: the receivers and managers of health Scope, have confirmed that 87 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 2: NT Health will have a seat at the table with 88 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: negotiating with any prospective purchaser to talk about reinstating private 89 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 2: maternity services. But I think the other side of that, Katie, 90 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 2: is that what we really heard was that rdi H 91 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 2: is in crisis. IDH maternity services are in crisis, and 92 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 2: a really significant issue is staffing and if that doesn't change, 93 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,559 Speaker 2: if the culture at RDH doesn't change, and we heard 94 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 2: that there's a really negative, toxic workplace culture there, and 95 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: we heard it from a number of people, including Cacaptcha 96 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 2: couldn't join us, unfortunately she was unwell, but she sent 97 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: through her speech and that was read out by another 98 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: midwife that if that doesn't change, it doesn't matter how 99 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 2: much money we get from the federal government, because if 100 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 2: we can't recruit and retain midwives to staff the facility, 101 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 2: we're going to be in the same situation. And it's 102 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 2: seemingly getting worse, not better. Yeah. 103 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: Well, look, we're going to catch up with Cath Hatcher 104 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: as well in just a couple of minutes time, so 105 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: we'll see what else we can find out. Tessa. I 106 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: understand there was also some discussion and continues to be 107 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: around defense families and the impact that the closure of 108 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 1: the private private hospital Ward maternity Services that it's having 109 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 1: for some of those defense families. Is that right, That's. 110 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 2: Right, Katie. There was one of our speakers is a 111 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 2: defense with a defense wife and she they're about to 112 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 2: actually post out of Darwin too so that they can 113 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:12,919 Speaker 2: have their third baby because of the closure of the 114 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 2: private hospital. She had a really really negative experience with 115 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 2: ARDIH with her first baby. The trauma of that means 116 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: that she just can't bring herself to represent at Ardie 117 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 2: H to have her third baby, shadow second at the 118 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: private There's a survey that we've put out to Defense 119 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 2: force families and it's still open, so i'd really encourage 120 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 2: any defense families that are listening. If you see that survey, 121 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: if it comes across your email or social media, please 122 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 2: please complete it because it's really important. But a lot 123 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 2: of the messages that we're getting through that survey that 124 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 2: families are opting to post out or alternatively to not 125 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 2: post to Darwin because of the lack of birth choice 126 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 2: options available to them, obviously arising out of the closure 127 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: of DPH and then the under resourcing at Ardie H had. 128 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: One of those mums stand up and say that. 129 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 2: Yep, literally had someone stand up and say that on Saturday. 130 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a real concern. I mean that's a worry 131 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: in a lot of different ways. But when you look 132 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: at the Northern Territory, when you look at Darwin as 133 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: being a capital city, we're wanting to try and entice 134 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: people to move here, not just defense families, but I 135 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: genuinely believe that this has an impact on where the 136 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: people will move here, and particularly if they're looking at 137 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: having babies. 138 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 2: I agree Katie, and I think when you look at 139 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 2: what continuity of care models are available for mums, obviously 140 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 2: private and stetric care was one of those, a big 141 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: one of those, and that's now gone. We've got our 142 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 2: MGP program and our home birth program, which everything that 143 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 2: we heard on Saturday and then the lead up to 144 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: Saturday is it is at a state of collapse. It 145 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 2: is falling apart because of lack of continuity of staffing. 146 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,239 Speaker 2: That a lot of those positions are filled with agency staff, 147 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 2: which defeats the purpose of continuity of care because they're 148 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 2: not permanent staff and so if you're looking for continuity 149 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 2: of care, they're your options that are on the table 150 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 2: and they're being stripped away. So I agree. I think 151 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 2: in terms of attracting people to come and live in 152 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 2: Darwin and in the Northern Territory, it's crucial. Otherwise we're 153 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 2: going to lose a cohort of young families who would 154 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 2: be looking to move here. We just won't attract those people. 155 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: Say so from your perspective, what are the next steps? 156 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 2: So we've got meetings set up with a number of 157 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 2: politicians this week and hopefully next Katie, So we're going 158 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 2: to really be driving for obviously the federal funding and 159 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 2: speaking with both Luke and the territory government as well 160 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 2: about okay, what do we need to do to get 161 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 2: on the same page. And I heard lies say, you know, 162 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 2: a territory approach and I agree with that. We all 163 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 2: need to be on the same page with this. So 164 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 2: we just need to make it happen. As a group. 165 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 2: We are sick of hearing you know, we're waiting for 166 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 2: this or people haven't provided this information. We just need 167 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: to drive this forward. We're going to meet with both 168 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 2: Luke and whether it's Anty Health or the Health Minister 169 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 2: or the Chief Minister, whoever we need to meet with 170 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: within anti government to progress that. The other things that 171 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 2: we're going to be driving having heard about these issues 172 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 2: about staffing is how do we address that because RDIH, 173 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 2: the RDH executives are indicating that they're unaware of these issues, 174 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,719 Speaker 2: which is very surprising. So I don't know whether they 175 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 2: need to put out a survey for their staff. I'm 176 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 2: loath to say engage a consultant because I know funding 177 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: is so tight, but whether they need to engage somebody 178 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 2: who's outside of Anti health, outside of RDH to come 179 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 2: in and speak to the staff and get to the 180 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 2: bottom of what this problem is. That that's going to 181 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 2: be something else that we're going to be exploring in 182 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 2: the next few weeks, and obviously just keeping on trying 183 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 2: to get the message out there that things need to 184 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 2: improve and there needs to be some short term improvements 185 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 2: with I've got these plans for potentially building a new hospital, 186 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 2: which is going to be a long way down the track, 187 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: co locating of women's and children's services, all of those things, 188 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 2: which is all fantastic, but those plans are still very 189 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 2: much in the planning phase. There needs to be some 190 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 2: changes that are made right now in the short term 191 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 2: to improve services, and that's kind of what our focus 192 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 2: is going to be going forward in the next couple 193 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 2: of months. 194 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 1: Well, Tessa, really appreciate your time this morning keeping contact 195 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: with us. Let us know what you hear. We're going 196 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: to continue to talk about this. We've just been sent 197 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: a statement as well from Steve Edgington and one from 198 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 1: Luke Gosling, so we will continue the discussion. I really 199 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: appreciate your time. Thank you so much for joining that. 200 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, and thank you for continuing to give 201 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: this issue airtime. It's such an important one. 202 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: We really really appreciate it anytime. Thank you, Tessa.