Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well. On Saturday, about one hundred people attended a forum
on maternity services in the Northern Territory, including moms, dads,
pregnant women, health professionals, and even grandparents. One of the
local moms involved, Tessa Sizlowski, joined me on the show
last week, saying it was a chance for everyone to
share their feedback and experiences which will eventually be presented
(00:22):
to the Northern Territory government. Now she joins me on
the line right now, Good morning to you, Tessa.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good morning, Katie. How are you? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Really good now, Tessa, It's quite a large turnout by
the sounds of things.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
So, yeah, it was, Katie, it was. We had a
real cross section of the community, which was absolutely wonderful.
Trying to gather mums on a Saturday in one location
is a fairly tough ask. So I think it just
speaks volumes about how important this issue is within the community.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yeah, I agree with you. Now, what were some of
the concerns and the key issues that were raised?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
So we had a number of concerns that were raised
mums and midwife and I apologize for the background, no wrong,
the one who is teething, As we had moms who
shared their stories, and there was sort of four really
key concerns that came through. One of them was the
reducing choices that birthing women in the Northern Territory have,
(01:23):
and you know, obviously we've spoken previously about the closure
of the private Maternity Ward, but also the review of MGP.
Women shared their stories from within the MGP program and
also the home birth program about the transient staffing issues
that they're experiencing and that you know, even though they're
(01:44):
within the home birth program, they haven't been able to
have their birth at home because the staff weren't available
on the day, and so it just seems like those
those choices are just being eroded more and more over time,
and women want choice. They want to be able to
choose the setting for them that's right for them, and
(02:05):
at the moment that just isn't isn't an option. The
second really key issue was around continuity of care. And
we know there's lots of research out there about that
continuity of care offers better outcomes for mums and babies,
and women again shared those stories about not having continuity
of care or even within the programs that should provide
(02:28):
continuity of care. That's that's not happening at the moment.
So and one of the practitioners that was or clinicians
that was in attendance provided us with some feedback about
continuity and what she said that, you know, continuity means
that that clinical clinicians or midwives won't delay those problems
(02:50):
that they might be experiencing over until tomorrow because ultimately
it's their responsibility and that patient remains with them, so
they address it, you know then and there, Whereas the
lack of continuity means that things can be delayed and
pushed back for somebody else to deal with and ultimately
it means less responsibility for patient outcomes. And I think
that's really key. Yeah, it went and I think it
(03:12):
was felt keenly within the room that women felt that,
you know, their issues were being pushed, pushed over or
delayed and whether that was because of a lack of
resourcing or a lack of staffing on the on the day,
there were lots of stories around that. So I think
continuity of care is a really really key key point
that came out of the forum on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So, Tessa, I mean, look, we're too from here with
the issues that have been raised. I know last time
you and I spoke, you said that eventually, you know,
they will be presented to the Northern Territory government. But
you know, based on those discussions that we had on Saturday,
where do you think this should go next and what
are the next steps?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So next STEP's Katie. We're going to have another forum
on the first of November and that's going to be
open to politicians and media and we're really encouraguraging politicians
to come along and to listen to what people have
to say. We've already set up a meeting with RDIH
management to talk to them and provide them with some feedback,
(04:11):
but also to see how we can partner with them
to work through some of these really fundamental issues. Staffing
and support is another issue that came up, lack of resourcing.
We've heard about the midwives leaving the territory because they've
got lack of permanent positions and those sorts of things.
So we've also reached out to the union and going
to arrange a meeting with them to talk to them
(04:33):
about you know, what advocacy work we can do to
help them advocate for better conditions for midwives. In the territory.
And then the final thing that we're really asking for
the government to implement fairly promptly is to establish a
sort of form or a community voice where consumers, mums
(04:54):
and other people in the community effectively have a seat
at the table when they're making decisions about changes to
maternity services. We know the MGP programs under review. As
far as we are aware, there has been no consumer
consultation about those proposed changes at all. And that was
another thing that came out on Saturday, was just a
real lack of transparency when they're making changes to programs
(05:19):
and things within the system, there's just no consultation Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Well to the people that they're going to impact.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Exactly, and so people are left in the dark and
then they wonder why mons don't, you know, are disappointed
or dissatisfied with the services that they're receiving. It's because
they haven't been consulted about what that actually means.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
For yeah, Tessa. In terms of we also know, of
course that the Northern Territory government had written to the
Commonwealth Government seeking funding for infrastructure upgrades. Was that something
that attendees thought was an issue or think would be
beneficial look.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
There was certainly some feedback about the state of the
maternity water, the birth suites up at level six at
Ardi H, and undoubtedly there needs to be some improvements,
but a lot of the feedback was around we've got
that beautiful birth center down on the ground floor which
is being completely underutilized, and that really we need to
be focusing on getting the staff so that that birth
(06:16):
center can be operational. Again. We heard from some of
the people who were involved in advocating for that when
it was first constructed and about I think it was
up until about twenty and eighteen or twenty nineteen it
was being used really, really frequently, and then there were
some changes made at Ardi H and since then it's
really not being used for birthing very often at all.
(06:39):
There have been some berths there, but there's sort of
few and far between and staffing dependents. So I think
the feedback was yes, definitely we need some infrastructure upgrades
at Ardi H, and I don't think you would get
any argument from even the minister about that. But we've
also got facilities downstairs that could be utilized straight away.
(07:00):
Of course, the Palmerston Hospital which has a maternity ward
or birthing suite there that have not been used at all.
So I think the general consensus was that we need
to get some of these other things right first. There
are quick effects. We've got the res or the infrastructure
available to us, we just can't start it at the moment.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Well, Tessa, look, you know, you wonderful ladies have really
done your best to make sure that your voices are
heard in this space. I think it's really important that
advocacy that is happening and trying to you know, enable
other women's voices and family members, husbands, grandparents, even their
staff to have their voices heard when it comes to
(07:45):
some of those concerns. So please continue to keep us
up to date. You know, we will make sure we
get you on before the first of November, I think
you said for the next event, but also after you
hold those meetings. Would be really keen to you to
get those updates.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Thanks, Katie, and I'll be sure to keep you and
the listeners updated. And let's hope that having now had
a hundred different people kind of come along and off
the their views, the government actually start to take this
issue really seriously.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, I agree, Well, Tessa, thank you so much for
your time and I hope, hope you're going okay with
you but with your teething baby. Oh it's a hard time.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It will pass, Katie, thank you, it will.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Oh lovely to speak to you. Thanks so much. Tessa
Well. On Saturday, about one hundred people attended a forum
on maternity services in the Northern Territory, including moms, dads,
pregnant women, health professionals, and even grandparents. One of the
local moms involved, Tessa Sizlowski, joined me on the show
last week, saying it was a chance for everyone to
share their feedback and experiences which will eventually be presented
(00:22):
to the Northern Territory government. Now she joins me on
the line right now, Good morning to you, Tessa.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good morning, Katie. How are you? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Really good now, Tessa, It's quite a large turnout by
the sounds of things.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
So, yeah, it was, Katie, it was. We had a
real cross section of the community, which was absolutely wonderful.
Trying to gather mums on a Saturday in one location
is a fairly tough ask. So I think it just
speaks volumes about how important this issue is within the community.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yeah, I agree with you. Now, what were some of
the concerns and the key issues that were raised?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
So we had a number of concerns that were raised
mums and midwife and I apologize for the background, no wrong,
the one who is teething, As we had moms who
shared their stories, and there was sort of four really
key concerns that came through. One of them was the
reducing choices that birthing women in the Northern Territory have,
(01:23):
and you know, obviously we've spoken previously about the closure
of the private Maternity Ward, but also the review of MGP.
Women shared their stories from within the MGP program and
also the home birth program about the transient staffing issues
that they're experiencing and that you know, even though they're
(01:44):
within the home birth program, they haven't been able to
have their birth at home because the staff weren't available
on the day, and so it just seems like those
those choices are just being eroded more and more over time,
and women want choice. They want to be able to
choose the setting for them that's right for them, and
(02:05):
at the moment that just isn't isn't an option. The
second really key issue was around continuity of care. And
we know there's lots of research out there about that
continuity of care offers better outcomes for mums and babies,
and women again shared those stories about not having continuity
of care or even within the programs that should provide
(02:28):
continuity of care. That's that's not happening at the moment.
So and one of the practitioners that was or clinicians
that was in attendance provided us with some feedback about
continuity and what she said that, you know, continuity means
that that clinical clinicians or midwives won't delay those problems
(02:50):
that they might be experiencing over until tomorrow because ultimately
it's their responsibility and that patient remains with them, so
they address it, you know then and there, Whereas the
lack of continuity means that things can be delayed and
pushed back for somebody else to deal with and ultimately
it means less responsibility for patient outcomes. And I think
that's really key. Yeah, it went and I think it
(03:12):
was felt keenly within the room that women felt that,
you know, their issues were being pushed, pushed over or
delayed and whether that was because of a lack of
resourcing or a lack of staffing on the on the day,
there were lots of stories around that. So I think
continuity of care is a really really key key point
that came out of the forum on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So, Tessa, I mean, look, we're too from here with
the issues that have been raised. I know last time
you and I spoke, you said that eventually, you know,
they will be presented to the Northern Territory government. But
you know, based on those discussions that we had on Saturday,
where do you think this should go next and what
are the next steps?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So next STEP's Katie. We're going to have another forum
on the first of November and that's going to be
open to politicians and media and we're really encouraguraging politicians
to come along and to listen to what people have
to say. We've already set up a meeting with RDIH
management to talk to them and provide them with some feedback,
(04:11):
but also to see how we can partner with them
to work through some of these really fundamental issues. Staffing
and support is another issue that came up, lack of resourcing.
We've heard about the midwives leaving the territory because they've
got lack of permanent positions and those sorts of things.
So we've also reached out to the union and going
to arrange a meeting with them to talk to them
(04:33):
about you know, what advocacy work we can do to
help them advocate for better conditions for midwives. In the territory.
And then the final thing that we're really asking for
the government to implement fairly promptly is to establish a
sort of form or a community voice where consumers, mums
(04:54):
and other people in the community effectively have a seat
at the table when they're making decisions about changes to
maternity services. We know the MGP programs under review. As
far as we are aware, there has been no consumer
consultation about those proposed changes at all. And that was
another thing that came out on Saturday, was just a
real lack of transparency when they're making changes to programs
(05:19):
and things within the system, there's just no consultation Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Well to the people that they're going to impact.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Exactly, and so people are left in the dark and
then they wonder why mons don't, you know, are disappointed
or dissatisfied with the services that they're receiving. It's because
they haven't been consulted about what that actually means.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
For yeah, Tessa. In terms of we also know, of
course that the Northern Territory government had written to the
Commonwealth Government seeking funding for infrastructure upgrades. Was that something
that attendees thought was an issue or think would be
beneficial look.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
There was certainly some feedback about the state of the
maternity water, the birth suites up at level six at
Ardi H, and undoubtedly there needs to be some improvements,
but a lot of the feedback was around we've got
that beautiful birth center down on the ground floor which
is being completely underutilized, and that really we need to
be focusing on getting the staff so that that birth
(06:16):
center can be operational. Again. We heard from some of
the people who were involved in advocating for that when
it was first constructed and about I think it was
up until about twenty and eighteen or twenty nineteen it
was being used really, really frequently, and then there were
some changes made at Ardi H and since then it's
really not being used for birthing very often at all.
(06:39):
There have been some berths there, but there's sort of
few and far between and staffing dependents. So I think
the feedback was yes, definitely we need some infrastructure upgrades
at Ardi H, and I don't think you would get
any argument from even the minister about that. But we've
also got facilities downstairs that could be utilized straight away.
(07:00):
Of course, the Palmerston Hospital which has a maternity ward
or birthing suite there that have not been used at all.
So I think the general consensus was that we need
to get some of these other things right first. There
are quick effects. We've got the res or the infrastructure
available to us, we just can't start it at the moment.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Well, Tessa, look, you know, you wonderful ladies have really
done your best to make sure that your voices are
heard in this space. I think it's really important that
advocacy that is happening and trying to you know, enable
other women's voices and family members, husbands, grandparents, even their
staff to have their voices heard when it comes to
(07:45):
some of those concerns. So please continue to keep us
up to date. You know, we will make sure we
get you on before the first of November, I think
you said for the next event, but also after you
hold those meetings. Would be really keen to you to
get those updates.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Thanks, Katie, and I'll be sure to keep you and
the listeners updated. And let's hope that having now had
a hundred different people kind of come along and off
the their views, the government actually start to take this
issue really seriously.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, I agree, Well, Tessa, thank you so much for
your time and I hope, hope you're going okay with
you but with your teething baby. Oh it's a hard time.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It will pass, Katie, thank you, it will.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Oh lovely to speak to you. Thanks so much. Tessa
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