Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In recent weeks, we've spoken extensively to territory women who
are seriously concerned about the ending of private maternity services
at Darwin Private Hospital. Now, the Darwin Private Hospital announced
the closure of its maternity ward by June sixth this year.
The organizers of a petition opposing the closure say this
decision made by private operator health Scope is going to
(00:23):
leave expectant mothers and families across the Northern Territory without
a choice of how they can access maternity care.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
They say it is more than a health care shift,
it's a blow to women's rights, family planning and the
future of Darwin as a liveable city. The head of
the Nursing and Midwiffree Federation of the Northern Territory, cath Hatcher,
joins me on the line.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Good morning, Cath Michae, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Kathie's services the Darwin Private Hospital is set to end
in June. What are nurses and midwife saying to you
as that date edges clos up.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Well, the nurses and midwives that are working at the
private hospital, they're very still concerned because they're not getting
much feedback from their employer. And we've been in constant
contact via email and if we haven't been to some
(01:23):
members then excuse me, my phone's going. Then we haven't
gone slack. And we are working behind the scenes and
talking to the employer at health Scope and trying to
(01:43):
get the best deal for them no matter what they
wish to do with their employments.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
So cat have nurses from the private hospital got jobs
to go to at Royal Darwin or are they looking
to get payouts? I would imagine everybody's situation is probably
a bit different.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, the direct entry midwives, they can't be re employed
at the health Scope Darwin Private because they're midwife registration
only and they're not a nurse, so they need to
work in a facility that's midwid free based, so they
(02:22):
could work in the Department of Health or Royal Darwin Hospital.
But I do know that at least three out of
the four direct entries are going to go across and
work at Royal Darwin Hospital. And the others that are
nurses as well as midwives, they're dual registered. There's a
(02:43):
mix there. There's some that are going to early retire,
some are going to take redeployment within Darwin Private, and
some others that haven't made their mind done.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
I can't yet how many nurses and midwives are we
tall here?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
About fourteen all up?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I think so about fourteen now in terms of them.
The impact of the private wards closure that it's going
to have on the public hospital, how great do you
think that's going to be? Well?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
The NT government is saying it's all going to be
fine and Royal DA and be able to cope with
the extra you know, two hundred and eighty ish women
and babies, and I call out that, no, I don't
think that they're going to be able to cope and
(03:39):
lap that up within current services. They're going to need
some more midwives, they may potentially need another obstetric registrar
or obstetrician. They might need to do some internal infrastructure,
and I feel that they need some more money. So
(04:02):
I called on the local government before the federal government
went in to caretaker mode and asked them to call
on the federal government for money to support extra money
from the federal government to support Royal dh in hospital.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
How much do you reckon they need cats?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I don't know, but it would be interesting. I mean,
we know that six million has been given to the
Hobart Calvary Private or between the public and the Calvary
Private down in Hobart for the closure of the Health
Hobart Private hospital that is going to close in August.
(04:44):
That was given by the federal government a couple of
months ago. So I've been pushing this government. They said, no,
they haven't asked. There's no money from our local government
and they haven't asked the federal government. And then I
couldn't do much more pushing within the caretaker mode. But
I did speak to Luke Goffling and he said, oh,
(05:06):
we're just the federal government are waiting for the local
government to ask the money.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Well there, Well, look I've got the Health Minister on tomorrow,
so we are certainly going to ask that. I guess
in a real practical sense, so I can wrap my
head around it as WELLCAF like in terms of where
to from here without that federal funding, without some additional
funding to cover the increase of patients that we're going
(05:33):
to see needing maternity services at Royal dah And Hospital,
you know, like, if we're not able to get that funding,
what kind of impact do you think that's going to have.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Before I answer that question, I'll just say that I
wrote to the Health Minister again yesterday just stipulating now's
a good time. The federal government have been re elected
and let's get on and ask the federal government for money.
But hopefully they are going to pursue that if there
(06:04):
is no money given to all Darwin. I you know,
the midwives there are so awesome. They will do their
absolute best to give the best possible care to all
women and the babies. Whether you know they've they've got
extra women coming from the private or not. They will
(06:26):
do that. But yes, the public are right and I've
been hearing women on the radio they are short stuff.
However they will They have been advertising, the government and
well the Department of Health, I should say, they have
been advertising. They're trying to get people to come and
(06:47):
work in the territory. And it is the better time
of year because people do come and work in the
in the Darwin because it's lovely, but then unfortunately they
go again, you're not October. But the department will make
sure that every shift, if there is positions that need
(07:08):
fillings for that shift, they will do so. Whether it
be from the casual or the pool staff or agency.
They will feel they will have midwives on the floor.
The trouble right across Australia at the moment is there's
a very skill unbalanced with mix of midwives. So we've
(07:30):
got a high proportion of graduate and novice midwives. Now,
not to say that they aren't brilliant, they are brilliant,
but they do need that back up and support of
the experience like any job. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Can I ask you in terms of we had been
told by the Northern Territory government that there would be
sort of resort style accommodation or you know, different different
rooms available at a hotel, well for you know that
was going to be an option for expectant mums. Are
you aware if that is still the case, because I
(08:07):
know that doctor Robert Parker had said in the paper
yesterday that it may not be.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yeah, I did read that and I haven't heard myself
from within the office from outside. But whether it's going
to go ahead or not, it is up to the
Women's Private Health Insurance to get that cover through their insurance,
so I don't have to pay anything out of pocket.
And if they do have a resort style or they
(08:36):
go to some sort of hotel instead of going home
for a few days or a week, whatever they feel
they need. They will have that support of the domicillary
midwife service which comes from Ryal Dalhen Hospital. They will
see them as soon as they're discharged to home or
to a hotel or to family within Darwin. They will
(08:59):
have a daily visit, a visit the next day, and
if they are a second or third time mum, they
might not get a visit every day. They might have
a visit every second day. With phone call. They will
be given a number to call if they need to
for during the day and then a different phone number
(09:20):
to ring during the after hours service if they need support,
so that they will have that support there, cav can.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
You tell me? And I don't know whether you know
or not, but one of the concerns that's also been
flagged with me is that for you know, for women
being cared for through their private health insurer who have
an obstetrician that would usually deliver their baby in the
private hospital, is that still going to be able to
happen through the public hospital. Because I know when I
(09:52):
birth my children at the public hospital, it's not a
matter of their you know, I don't know whether whether
a private obstetrician can then come in and and use
that delivery suite or use the surgery if you need
to have a cesarean or whatever may happen. Do you
have any clarity on that space.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
That is possible, but I would the women would need
to speak to the midwives and the doctors when they
go through their antenatal care and ask that question. Some
of the doctors or obstetricians may be able to provide
that service a private patient within a public hospital, but
(10:35):
generally the midwives, even in the private hospital, the midwives
are the ones that care for the majority of their
time through their labor. Then they call the obstetrician in
you know, half an hour an hour before their imminent birth,
and then the obstetrician takes over. So that could happen
(10:55):
as the same within the public sector, but the woman
would need to speak to the obsnitrition that they're under
at the time.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Kath a quick listener comment, I guess this person said
they'd like to stay anonymous, please, but they've said Hallway
births as recent as two weeks ago at Royal Dah
and hospital scans having to be sourced from Catherine. Thank you,
Kav for being honest and ending the Northern Territory government
gas lighting that Royal dah And Hospital is equipped to
(11:24):
absorb these extra births easily. I mean, is that the
case people having their babies or are women having their
babies in the hallways?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
I did hear that too, but I haven't had confirmation
if that was correct or not my nineteen years of
working as a midwife at Royal Dahen Hospital. Yes, we
have had the occasional person deliver their baby in the
maternity ward and not in the birth unit or the
(11:56):
delivery suite because all rooms have been full and tied
with other laboring or birthing mothers and the best place
is back on the maternity ward that they can be
cared for there. I'm quite surprised that possibly a mother
gave birth in the corridor, unless she was waiting to
(12:16):
go over to delivery suite and all of a sudden
baby came and there was no time to put her
into a room. But it's not common, but it does happen.
I don't know about the corridor, yeah thing, but occasionally
it happens in a room on the ward and.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Kas what about I mean, we know that quite a
while back. It was something that I covered extensively on
the show Women having to go to Catherine to get
those scans. Do you know if that is still the case.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
No, I haven't heard anything about that at all. And yeah,
that's not very good. It's that what's happening.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Yeah, well, look we'll follow that up Kas before I
let you go. I mean, is there anything that you
really want me to be aware of before we do
catch up with the Health minister tomorrow. It does sound
as though that additional funding and the Northern Territory government
requesting that from the feeds is top of the priority list.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
I think they just need to be brave and ask
the federal government for the money, you know, being the
our local government is liberal and the federal government is labor,
I think they need to think of the women and
the babies and families within Darwin and ask the question
and get the money.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Cath Hatcher, I always appreciate your time. Thank you very
much for having a chat with me this morning.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Thank you Katie, Thank you listeners.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Thanks so much,
In recent weeks, we've spoken extensively to territory women who
are seriously concerned about the ending of private maternity services
at Darwin Private Hospital. Now, the Darwin Private Hospital announced
the closure of its maternity ward by June sixth this year.
The organizers of a petition opposing the closure say this
decision made by private operator health Scope is going to
(00:23):
leave expectant mothers and families across the Northern Territory without
a choice of how they can access maternity care.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
They say it is more than a health care shift,
it's a blow to women's rights, family planning and the
future of Darwin as a liveable city. The head of
the Nursing and Midwiffree Federation of the Northern Territory, cath Hatcher,
joins me on the line.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Good morning, Cath Michae, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Kathie's services the Darwin Private Hospital is set to end
in June. What are nurses and midwife saying to you
as that date edges clos up.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Well, the nurses and midwives that are working at the
private hospital, they're very still concerned because they're not getting
much feedback from their employer. And we've been in constant
contact via email and if we haven't been to some
(01:23):
members then excuse me, my phone's going. Then we haven't
gone slack. And we are working behind the scenes and
talking to the employer at health Scope and trying to
(01:43):
get the best deal for them no matter what they
wish to do with their employments.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
So cat have nurses from the private hospital got jobs
to go to at Royal Darwin or are they looking
to get payouts? I would imagine everybody's situation is probably
a bit different.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, the direct entry midwives, they can't be re employed
at the health Scope Darwin Private because they're midwife registration
only and they're not a nurse, so they need to
work in a facility that's midwid free based, so they
(02:22):
could work in the Department of Health or Royal Darwin Hospital.
But I do know that at least three out of
the four direct entries are going to go across and
work at Royal Darwin Hospital. And the others that are
nurses as well as midwives, they're dual registered. There's a
(02:43):
mix there. There's some that are going to early retire,
some are going to take redeployment within Darwin Private, and
some others that haven't made their mind done.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
I can't yet how many nurses and midwives are we
tall here?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
About fourteen all up?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I think so about fourteen now in terms of them.
The impact of the private wards closure that it's going
to have on the public hospital, how great do you
think that's going to be? Well?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
The NT government is saying it's all going to be
fine and Royal DA and be able to cope with
the extra you know, two hundred and eighty ish women
and babies, and I call out that, no, I don't
think that they're going to be able to cope and
(03:39):
lap that up within current services. They're going to need
some more midwives, they may potentially need another obstetric registrar
or obstetrician. They might need to do some internal infrastructure,
and I feel that they need some more money. So
(04:02):
I called on the local government before the federal government
went in to caretaker mode and asked them to call
on the federal government for money to support extra money
from the federal government to support Royal dh in hospital.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
How much do you reckon they need cats?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I don't know, but it would be interesting. I mean,
we know that six million has been given to the
Hobart Calvary Private or between the public and the Calvary
Private down in Hobart for the closure of the Health
Hobart Private hospital that is going to close in August.
(04:44):
That was given by the federal government a couple of
months ago. So I've been pushing this government. They said, no,
they haven't asked. There's no money from our local government
and they haven't asked the federal government. And then I
couldn't do much more pushing within the caretaker mode. But
I did speak to Luke Goffling and he said, oh,
(05:06):
we're just the federal government are waiting for the local
government to ask the money.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Well there, Well, look I've got the Health Minister on tomorrow,
so we are certainly going to ask that. I guess
in a real practical sense, so I can wrap my
head around it as WELLCAF like in terms of where
to from here without that federal funding, without some additional
funding to cover the increase of patients that we're going
(05:33):
to see needing maternity services at Royal dah And Hospital,
you know, like, if we're not able to get that funding,
what kind of impact do you think that's going to have.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Before I answer that question, I'll just say that I
wrote to the Health Minister again yesterday just stipulating now's
a good time. The federal government have been re elected
and let's get on and ask the federal government for money.
But hopefully they are going to pursue that if there
(06:04):
is no money given to all Darwin. I you know,
the midwives there are so awesome. They will do their
absolute best to give the best possible care to all
women and the babies. Whether you know they've they've got
extra women coming from the private or not. They will
(06:26):
do that. But yes, the public are right and I've
been hearing women on the radio they are short stuff.
However they will They have been advertising, the government and
well the Department of Health, I should say, they have
been advertising. They're trying to get people to come and
(06:47):
work in the territory. And it is the better time
of year because people do come and work in the
in the Darwin because it's lovely, but then unfortunately they
go again, you're not October. But the department will make
sure that every shift, if there is positions that need
(07:08):
fillings for that shift, they will do so. Whether it
be from the casual or the pool staff or agency.
They will feel they will have midwives on the floor.
The trouble right across Australia at the moment is there's
a very skill unbalanced with mix of midwives. So we've
(07:30):
got a high proportion of graduate and novice midwives. Now,
not to say that they aren't brilliant, they are brilliant,
but they do need that back up and support of
the experience like any job. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Can I ask you in terms of we had been
told by the Northern Territory government that there would be
sort of resort style accommodation or you know, different different
rooms available at a hotel, well for you know that
was going to be an option for expectant mums. Are
you aware if that is still the case, because I
(08:07):
know that doctor Robert Parker had said in the paper
yesterday that it may not be.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yeah, I did read that and I haven't heard myself
from within the office from outside. But whether it's going
to go ahead or not, it is up to the
Women's Private Health Insurance to get that cover through their insurance,
so I don't have to pay anything out of pocket.
And if they do have a resort style or they
(08:36):
go to some sort of hotel instead of going home
for a few days or a week, whatever they feel
they need. They will have that support of the domicillary
midwife service which comes from Ryal Dalhen Hospital. They will
see them as soon as they're discharged to home or
to a hotel or to family within Darwin. They will
(08:59):
have a daily visit, a visit the next day, and
if they are a second or third time mum, they
might not get a visit every day. They might have
a visit every second day. With phone call. They will
be given a number to call if they need to
for during the day and then a different phone number
(09:20):
to ring during the after hours service if they need support,
so that they will have that support there, cav can.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
You tell me? And I don't know whether you know
or not, but one of the concerns that's also been
flagged with me is that for you know, for women
being cared for through their private health insurer who have
an obstetrician that would usually deliver their baby in the
private hospital, is that still going to be able to
happen through the public hospital. Because I know when I
(09:52):
birth my children at the public hospital, it's not a
matter of their you know, I don't know whether whether
a private obstetrician can then come in and and use
that delivery suite or use the surgery if you need
to have a cesarean or whatever may happen. Do you
have any clarity on that space.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
That is possible, but I would the women would need
to speak to the midwives and the doctors when they
go through their antenatal care and ask that question. Some
of the doctors or obstetricians may be able to provide
that service a private patient within a public hospital, but
(10:35):
generally the midwives, even in the private hospital, the midwives
are the ones that care for the majority of their
time through their labor. Then they call the obstetrician in
you know, half an hour an hour before their imminent birth,
and then the obstetrician takes over. So that could happen
(10:55):
as the same within the public sector, but the woman
would need to speak to the obsnitrition that they're under
at the time.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Kath a quick listener comment, I guess this person said
they'd like to stay anonymous, please, but they've said Hallway
births as recent as two weeks ago at Royal Dah
and hospital scans having to be sourced from Catherine. Thank you,
Kav for being honest and ending the Northern Territory government
gas lighting that Royal dah And Hospital is equipped to
(11:24):
absorb these extra births easily. I mean, is that the
case people having their babies or are women having their
babies in the hallways?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
I did hear that too, but I haven't had confirmation
if that was correct or not my nineteen years of
working as a midwife at Royal Dahen Hospital. Yes, we
have had the occasional person deliver their baby in the
maternity ward and not in the birth unit or the
(11:56):
delivery suite because all rooms have been full and tied
with other laboring or birthing mothers and the best place
is back on the maternity ward that they can be
cared for there. I'm quite surprised that possibly a mother
gave birth in the corridor, unless she was waiting to
(12:16):
go over to delivery suite and all of a sudden
baby came and there was no time to put her
into a room. But it's not common, but it does happen.
I don't know about the corridor, yeah thing, but occasionally
it happens in a room on the ward and.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Kas what about I mean, we know that quite a
while back. It was something that I covered extensively on
the show Women having to go to Catherine to get
those scans. Do you know if that is still the case.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
No, I haven't heard anything about that at all. And yeah,
that's not very good. It's that what's happening.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Yeah, well, look we'll follow that up Kas before I
let you go. I mean, is there anything that you
really want me to be aware of before we do
catch up with the Health minister tomorrow. It does sound
as though that additional funding and the Northern Territory government
requesting that from the feeds is top of the priority list.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
I think they just need to be brave and ask
the federal government for the money, you know, being the
our local government is liberal and the federal government is labor,
I think they need to think of the women and
the babies and families within Darwin and ask the question
and get the money.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Cath Hatcher, I always appreciate your time. Thank you very
much for having a chat with me this morning.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Thank you Katie, Thank you listeners.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Thanks so much,
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