1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: As were revealed a short time ago, we know that 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: the Midwiffree services are going to be ceasing at the 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: Darwin Private Hospital. We started to receive word from medical 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: insiders yesterday saying that they were quite concerned about this. 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: Now there's still a lot of things that remain up 6 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: in the air, all questions I guess for expectant mums 7 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: and for those that have gone through that service. Plenty 8 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: of messages coming through this morning on the tech signe 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: as well. Now. The Health Minister, Steve Edgington, has said 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: that they had hoped that Health Scope would give expectant 11 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 1: families at least nine months notice to allow them to 12 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: properly plan their birthing duty, their birthing journey. I should 13 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: say pardon me now, he says, given today's announcement, the 14 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: COLP government is going to act swiftly to ensure that 15 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: there are alternative private maternity measures and models and experiences 16 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: in Darwin. Now I am of the understanding, or I 17 00:00:55,040 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: certainly understand at this point in time that there those 18 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: The delivery of babies born at the Darwin Private Hospital 19 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: has dropped from around five hundred and six hundred a 20 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: year down two about two hundred in recent years, is 21 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,839 Speaker 1: what we're being told. But joining me on the line 22 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: right now is somebody with a lot more knowledge in 23 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: this space. It is the head of the Nursing and 24 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: Midwiffree Union here in the Northern Territory, Kath Hatcha. 25 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:27,199 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Ah, Good morning, Katie, Good morning 26 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: to your listeners. 27 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: Kav tell us what is this going to mean for 28 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: territory families. 29 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 2: It's very disappointing, isn't it. For about just under three 30 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 2: hundred women who are birthing or intending to birth at 31 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 2: the private hospital will no longer be able to. 32 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: Kath. It's massive news. Look, I didn't have my babies 33 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: at the private hospital. I had mine at Royal Darwin Hospital. 34 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: And I can't speak highly enough of the nurses and 35 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: doctors everybody involved there at the Royal Darwin Hospital. But 36 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: the fact is women want choices and this ultimately takes 37 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 1: that choice away. 38 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 2: It does, actually, it's taking their choice away. And the 39 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 2: announcement for the staff is happening today, so some of 40 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 2: the staff who potentially are on night duty or on 41 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 2: a late shift are here, probably hearing it on the 42 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: media before they are hearing it from their employer, which 43 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: is also very disappointing. You would think that they would 44 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 2: tell their staff before it was broadcast in the media. 45 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 2: So the whole process that's how it's come out is 46 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 2: also very disappointing. Besides the women who I feel for 47 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 2: that don't have that choice of birthing at the private kas. 48 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: It's I mean, it is, it's a terrible situation. What 49 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: are you being told is the reason behind this? 50 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 2: Haven't been told any reason, but I have just only 51 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 2: a few minutes ago received a email from the general 52 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 2: manager workplace relations to say it was a very difficult 53 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 2: decision and the sadly the service is no longer viable. 54 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 2: So to me that means money. 55 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, well that's exactly how it sounds. So cav have 56 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: you had nurses get and midwives get in contact with 57 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: you this morning? What are they saying to you? 58 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 2: They haven't been in contact with us because they're only 59 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 2: just finding out now, although they have had rumors going 60 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 2: around their workplace over the last couple of months and 61 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 2: the managers have said, oh no, no, that's not happening, etc. 62 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: I have reached out to the midwives this morning and 63 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 2: there were only just hearing from their managers, So this 64 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 2: will impact roughly around eleven full time equivalent sorry, fifteen equivalent. 65 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: They've got sixteen permanent staff with about ten more casuals 66 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: for the maternity which is antiinatal, postnatal, labor, birth and 67 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 2: special care nursery, and they have a little under three 68 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 2: hundred births currently with only two obstetricians and one pediatrician. 69 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 2: They have declined in their birthing rates since twenty and thirteen, 70 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 2: he says in his email, from nearly seven hundred births 71 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 2: in twenty thirteen to just under three hundred in last 72 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 2: year in twenty twenty four. So yes, they have been struggling, 73 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 2: but you know why haven't they reached out earlier from 74 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 2: the NT government, the federal government or the Royal Daleen 75 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 2: Hospital to try and work something out so women do 76 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 2: have choice that they can have an obstetrician for their 77 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: care right through from start to end. 78 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: Absolutely a cat to me, I'm going to be really 79 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: blunt about it. It sounds like bullshit. I think you know, 80 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: they're not putting patients first. What they're doing is worrying 81 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 1: about the bottom line. I get that they're a business, right, 82 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: but we are a capital city of Australia. 83 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: Yes, absolutely. Now they've done something recently in Healthscope in 84 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: hober they've just announced that last Friday and they're doing 85 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 2: the same they're shutting their maternity services. And you might 86 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 2: here have heard that CANS Private which is not a 87 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: Healthscope division at the Ramsey Health but they've done the 88 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: same thing early last year. They've shut their maternity services too. However, 89 00:05:55,200 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 2: CANS and Hobar have near other maternity service that they 90 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: can rely on, not just one hospital but several. We 91 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 2: have one hospital here in the top end. The next 92 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 2: one is go or Catherine in a similar sort of 93 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 2: kilometer radius. But that could potentially put more pressure on Catherine, 94 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 2: which is already under pressure. Royal Darwin is already under pressure. 95 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 2: Both campuses have lack of staff. They're already working over time, 96 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 2: double shifts etc. And agencies to fill the gap. Where 97 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: are they Yes, they potentially could get the extra staff 98 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: from the private but some of those midwives might not 99 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: want to go and work at the public system. They 100 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 2: might say, oh well the money, a couple of years 101 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 2: off retirement, I'll retire early, or they may go and 102 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 2: do something completely different. So they like working in the 103 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 2: private That's why I work there, that's. 104 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: Right, And again it's their choice. They get to decide 105 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: where they want to work. Kas Can you tell me 106 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: from a real, I guess, operational perspective, because there are 107 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: women already messaging through this morning saying Katie, what is 108 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: it going to mean, you know, in terms of still 109 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: being able to access an obstetrician. Would I still be 110 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: able to do that and go through the public hospital? 111 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: Somebody else wondering is there still going to be gynecologists 112 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: for other medical issues other than maternity as well. 113 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, there's definitely the gynecological set up in the 114 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 2: public system already, and I guess they're already offering that 115 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: star the private and I'm sure that they're going to, 116 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: you know, nitty gritty work out what's going to happen 117 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: over the next year. I shouldn't presume, but there is 118 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 2: an obstitution and gynecologist that is working at the private 119 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 2: I don't know whether that obstetrician gynecologist is going to 120 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 2: keep working as a gynecologist and stop thestetric component and 121 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 2: therefore be able to see women private. So they're gynecology 122 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 2: issues and perhaps potentially have operations if required. They're going 123 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 2: to have to nuck that out between the public and 124 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 2: the private. But I do know that there are five 125 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: staff at the private hospital that are direct entry midwives, 126 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 2: which means that there are not a nurse, so they 127 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 2: can't work in the rest of the private hospital as 128 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 2: a nurse. They need to work as a midwives. So 129 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 2: that's going to have a huge impact on them. 130 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: They could lose their jobs they I mean, well, like 131 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: it looks like that's going to be what happens unless 132 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,719 Speaker 1: they get redeployed or they want to be redeployed to 133 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: the I don't even know if that's the right word 134 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 1: for it, but yeah, to the public hospital. 135 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 2: Well, when you look at the industrial impact, are those 136 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 2: midwives if they do transfer across to the Royal Daleen 137 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 2: Hospital or anywhere else in the Department of Health, NT 138 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 2: are they going to take with them their sick leave, 139 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 2: their long service leave, and their annually and have all 140 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 2: their requirements carried over. Yeah, that legislation and enterprise agreement's 141 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 2: going to be needing to be looked at. But the 142 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 2: ones that are midwives as well as qualified registered nurses, 143 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 2: they could have the opportunity to still stay at the 144 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 2: private but work in other areas of the private as 145 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: a nurse. 146 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: There just sounds like there is sort of so much 147 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: to work through here, cass. Look, definitely let's keep in 148 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: contacts because I'll be if you know, I'm very keen 149 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: to sort of just to hear how things do progress, 150 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: particularly with those staff. I know we've already got women 151 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: getting in contact with us about this situation that obviously 152 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: have those concerns. I really appreciate you having a chat 153 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: with us this morning. 154 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 2: You're welcome, Katie. And I said on another radio station 155 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 2: this morning that I had heard from Department of Health 156 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 2: that the closure of the service was going to be 157 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 2: thirty first of March. But this letter that I received 158 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 2: five to ten minutes ago says that the service is 159 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 2: due to close on the seventeenth Debatepril, which is two 160 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 2: months away. It's not long enough to give everyone, the women, 161 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 2: particularly another avenue for their care. 162 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, we'd heard the same, so, but we have now 163 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,559 Speaker 1: had that confirmation from the Health Minister Steve Edgington that 164 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: it's going to be the seventeenth of April. But I 165 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: think regardless if your baby's due end of March early April, 166 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:01,719 Speaker 1: very concerned either way. 167 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 2: Yes, correct, and my heart goes out to the women 168 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 2: of Darwin and surrounding areas that have got their bookings 169 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 2: with the Private. We are going to see the staff 170 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 2: this afternoon at the Private and hopefully again early next week, 171 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 2: and we're going to try and see if we can 172 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 2: fight this. 173 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, Kath, we might even try and have another chat 174 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: with you tomorrow if there is a bit of an 175 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: update this afternoon. Thank you again for having a chat 176 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: with us, and we'll talk to you again very soon. 177 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 2: You're welcome. 178 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,439 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, Kath, and please pass on our well 179 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 1: wishers to all those nurses and everybody impacted as well. 180 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: I can't imagine, you know. I know it's so tough 181 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 1: for all the expectant families, but it's also so tough 182 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: for those women and you know, nurses and midwives, men 183 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: and women who are staring down the barrel of losing 184 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: their jobs or things changing dramatically for them. Yeah, correct, 185 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:57,079 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thanks so much.