Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well. As I mentioned, we have indeed spoken on a
number of occasions in recent weeks and months about maternity
services and will, specifically following the closure of the private
maternity ward at the dahl And Private Hospital. Now we
also then heard two weeks ago from a first time
mum who gave birth at home after being sent home
(00:20):
by staff. Now we're hearing from other mums that services
are being cut. We've seen a letter advising that midwiffery
group practice on call services has been stopped while the
reviews carried out to ensure that the model is sustainable.
Now the letter states that anti natal and post natal
appointments are going to be conducted by the MGP team
(00:44):
during business hours and that labour and birth care are
going to be provided by midwives and doctors in the
delivery suite, which will also handle after ours calls to midwives. Now,
the letter goes on to say that planned home births
will be supported, but at times support could be unavailable
due to staffing limitations. Now joining us on the line
(01:07):
is mum Tessa. Good morning to you, Tessa.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Good morning Katie. How are you yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Really good? Thank you so much for your time and
I know that you and several other Northern Territory mums
well really are trying to keep up to date with
everything that is going on when it comes to maternity
services across the Northern Territory, specifically following on from the
closure of the private ward at the Darwin Private Hospital.
(01:35):
Tessa tell us what this you know, this latest situation is.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Well, as you mentioned, Katie, there's been a letter circulating
from the head of the MGP program to mums who
are winning that program advising them that the services going
is currently undergoing a review and so on. Call and
birth services are going to be temporarily period of time
suspended while that review is conducted. And the MGP program
(02:05):
is you know, it's a really crucial sort of program
that has been offered by NT Healthcare in Darwin because
it's the only continuity of care program available for women
in Darwin, particularly now obviously after the closure of the
private maternity services. So with that being removed, it removes
the only other continuity of care program, as I said,
(02:28):
and I think the letter indicates that home births will
continue to be supported, obviously subject to resourcing. And that's
a concern because is that a sign of things to come.
But for the other four MGP teams, they will no
longer have those midwives who have provided them with the
support through their pregnancy, at their birth or if something
(02:51):
happens outside of business hours, they won't those midwives won't
be available. And Katie, just so your listeners are aware,
MGP program provides support to some of our most vulnerable moms.
Two of the teams support women who come in from
remote communities and the other two provide support for women
(03:12):
who have psychosocial vulnerabilities and what might be considered sort
of higher risk pregnancy. So they're our most vulnerable mums
and we know continuity of care provides better outcomes for moms,
better outcomes for babies. There was a study published just
in July in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynocology,
and it was an Australian study that talked about specifically
(03:35):
continuity of care and lowering the neonatal and steelbirth death rates.
And so we've removed our continuity of care with not
having private obstetric services available. We're now removing our continuity
of care with the MGP program. So it's really really concerning.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
To anybody listening this morning that maybe hasn't utilized the
midware free group practice service before or doesn't know a
huge amount about it. Just spell it out for our listens.
Listeners exactly, you know what service they provide.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
So they provide a as I said, a continuity of
care service. So you have a primary midwife. They have
four teams and each of those teams has two midwives.
You have your primary midwife, you introduced to your secondary
midwife in case your primary midwife for whatever reason, is
not available. They do all your prenatal appointments, so you
have all of your appointments with the same midwife. Yeah,
(04:33):
they historically have been there out of hours. If you
need something, they're on call, you call them. And then
also obviously for your birth and then your post natal
appointments as well. And so what the suspension of services is,
as I understand, it is the outside of ours and
the birth support. So the women will still see their
(04:54):
primary midwife for their anti natal and post nail appointments,
but that midwife will not be of available for their birth,
and if something happens out of hours, you'll be seen
by the delivery suites midwives up at RDH. The other
thing as I understand, it is provided those mums were
considered low risk or normal risk pregnancies and births. They
(05:17):
were utilizing the birth center downstairs. We know that there
have been ongoing resourcing issues and that beautiful center that
we have at RDH really hasn't been used this year
at all. That is now off the table. The letter
makes clear that delivery will be up on.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Level six, so you can no longer go downstairs to
the birthing where you can put where you maybe just
there for the day.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, that's right for the MGP ladies, that's what the
letter spells out. That your delivery, your birth and delivery
will be conducted on Level six by the delivery suites
midwives and so it's just another cut of resources and services.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
And choice, you know, choice for families when it comes
to having their babies. Tell me what are other mums
saying about this at the moment? So I know that
you know, you're very like you are very well connected
with a whole lot of other mums. What are they
saying at this point in time.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Look, there's been a lot of concern raised about again
removal of services, removal of something which has been sort
of I guess the forerunner in maternity care within the
public system. The MGP program has been so important and
it's such a wonderful program to have, but there's also
real concern about what it means for resourcing for all
(06:35):
the other mums that are within the public system. I mean,
we've obviously seen the influx of women who were planning
on birthing at the private hospital now in the public system,
and despite what NTI Health says about being able to cope,
I mean, my personal story evidence is that that's not
necessarily the case. But also there's been a lot of
other stories out there. Recently we had the mum who
(06:58):
was sent home and ended up having a home accidental
home birth, not planned, and we've also there's a lot
of stories out there still and this is recently, as
in within the last few weeks, about women's inductions being
delayed going into the wards, starting the induction process and
they're not being birth suites or resources available for that
(07:18):
to continue, so they're spending two or three days on
the maternity ward waiting for the resources so that they
can continue to have their induction. So that you know,
you're putting additional pressure on the level six birth suites,
because instead of having these ladies looked after by their midwives,
possibly downstairs, they're now being looked after by the team upstairs.
(07:41):
Who you know, it's fairly clear from where I'm standing
and from the women I'm talking to, are already very stretched,
very under resourced. Yet and the more women in the system, well.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Tell me, like I guess from your perspective, like you've seen,
you know, women at the moment that due to give birth.
They are obviously feeling as though Royal Darwin Hospital is
quite overwhelmed.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
They are, they are, Katie, and I mean it's consistent
with you know, we've seen the code yellow. We know
the emergency department is completely overwhelmed. We know we have
bead shortages and stuff resourcing shortages, and then that's coupled
with the closure of the private maternity services and now
the you know, the suspension of the MGP program for birthing.
(08:29):
The mums out there that are pregnant due to give
birth in the coming days and weeks are very nervous,
very concerned about you know, what level of care is
going to be available. You know, are they going to
present to birth weeks and be turned away or present
to birth weeks and not have a birth suite available
for them.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
It's you know, it's a worry, like absolutely, it's a
it's a stressful situation then for mums, you know, and
particularly for first time mums, but for all moms that
are going to give birth and wondering about you know,
what it's going to mean for them. Tessa. Look, we'll
continue to have discussions about this. We might try and
catch up with the nursing and mid we're re union
on the show tomorrow. We'll certainly put in a request
(09:11):
to get some further detail from the department and from
the minister. I really appreciate you getting in contact with
us and making us aware of what's going on.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, thanks, Katie. I know it's a real concern and
I mean obviously for me it no longer impacts on
me personally. But if women aren't advocating and telling their
stories and sharing these issues and keeping this issue front
and center in the media, then it's not going to improve,
and we really really need it to improve. There needs
(09:43):
to be systemic change. There needs to be more funding.
We need to look at our recruitment and retention policies
for midwives and obviously, then also the issue about whether
or not we can re establish private maternity services in
the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Yep, sport on. Well, Tessa, I really appreciate your time
this morning. Thank you so much for having a chat,
no problem, Thanks for having me on Katie anytime. Thank
you
Well. As I mentioned, we have indeed spoken on a
number of occasions in recent weeks and months about maternity
services and will, specifically following the closure of the private
maternity ward at the dahl And Private Hospital. Now we
also then heard two weeks ago from a first time
mum who gave birth at home after being sent home
(00:20):
by staff. Now we're hearing from other mums that services
are being cut. We've seen a letter advising that midwiffery
group practice on call services has been stopped while the
reviews carried out to ensure that the model is sustainable.
Now the letter states that anti natal and post natal
appointments are going to be conducted by the MGP team
(00:44):
during business hours and that labour and birth care are
going to be provided by midwives and doctors in the
delivery suite, which will also handle after ours calls to midwives. Now,
the letter goes on to say that planned home births
will be supported, but at times support could be unavailable
due to staffing limitations. Now joining us on the line
(01:07):
is mum Tessa. Good morning to you, Tessa.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Good morning Katie. How are you yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Really good? Thank you so much for your time and
I know that you and several other Northern Territory mums
well really are trying to keep up to date with
everything that is going on when it comes to maternity
services across the Northern Territory, specifically following on from the
closure of the private ward at the Darwin Private Hospital.
(01:35):
Tessa tell us what this you know, this latest situation is.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Well, as you mentioned, Katie, there's been a letter circulating
from the head of the MGP program to mums who
are winning that program advising them that the services going
is currently undergoing a review and so on. Call and
birth services are going to be temporarily period of time
suspended while that review is conducted. And the MGP program
(02:05):
is you know, it's a really crucial sort of program
that has been offered by NT Healthcare in Darwin because
it's the only continuity of care program available for women
in Darwin, particularly now obviously after the closure of the
private maternity services. So with that being removed, it removes
the only other continuity of care program, as I said,
(02:28):
and I think the letter indicates that home births will
continue to be supported, obviously subject to resourcing. And that's
a concern because is that a sign of things to come.
But for the other four MGP teams, they will no
longer have those midwives who have provided them with the
support through their pregnancy, at their birth or if something
(02:51):
happens outside of business hours, they won't those midwives won't
be available. And Katie, just so your listeners are aware,
MGP program provides support to some of our most vulnerable moms.
Two of the teams support women who come in from
remote communities and the other two provide support for women
(03:12):
who have psychosocial vulnerabilities and what might be considered sort
of higher risk pregnancy. So they're our most vulnerable mums
and we know continuity of care provides better outcomes for moms,
better outcomes for babies. There was a study published just
in July in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynocology,
and it was an Australian study that talked about specifically
(03:35):
continuity of care and lowering the neonatal and steelbirth death rates.
And so we've removed our continuity of care with not
having private obstetric services available. We're now removing our continuity
of care with the MGP program. So it's really really concerning.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
To anybody listening this morning that maybe hasn't utilized the
midware free group practice service before or doesn't know a
huge amount about it. Just spell it out for our listens.
Listeners exactly, you know what service they provide.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
So they provide a as I said, a continuity of
care service. So you have a primary midwife. They have
four teams and each of those teams has two midwives.
You have your primary midwife, you introduced to your secondary
midwife in case your primary midwife for whatever reason, is
not available. They do all your prenatal appointments, so you
have all of your appointments with the same midwife. Yeah,
(04:33):
they historically have been there out of hours. If you
need something, they're on call, you call them. And then
also obviously for your birth and then your post natal
appointments as well. And so what the suspension of services is,
as I understand, it is the outside of ours and
the birth support. So the women will still see their
(04:54):
primary midwife for their anti natal and post nail appointments,
but that midwife will not be of available for their birth,
and if something happens out of hours, you'll be seen
by the delivery suites midwives up at RDH. The other
thing as I understand, it is provided those mums were
considered low risk or normal risk pregnancies and births. They
(05:17):
were utilizing the birth center downstairs. We know that there
have been ongoing resourcing issues and that beautiful center that
we have at RDH really hasn't been used this year
at all. That is now off the table. The letter
makes clear that delivery will be up on.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Level six, so you can no longer go downstairs to
the birthing where you can put where you maybe just
there for the day.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, that's right for the MGP ladies, that's what the
letter spells out. That your delivery, your birth and delivery
will be conducted on Level six by the delivery suites
midwives and so it's just another cut of resources and services.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
And choice, you know, choice for families when it comes
to having their babies. Tell me what are other mums
saying about this at the moment? So I know that
you know, you're very like you are very well connected
with a whole lot of other mums. What are they
saying at this point in time.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Look, there's been a lot of concern raised about again
removal of services, removal of something which has been sort
of I guess the forerunner in maternity care within the
public system. The MGP program has been so important and
it's such a wonderful program to have, but there's also
real concern about what it means for resourcing for all
(06:35):
the other mums that are within the public system. I mean,
we've obviously seen the influx of women who were planning
on birthing at the private hospital now in the public system,
and despite what NTI Health says about being able to cope,
I mean, my personal story evidence is that that's not
necessarily the case. But also there's been a lot of
other stories out there. Recently we had the mum who
(06:58):
was sent home and ended up having a home accidental
home birth, not planned, and we've also there's a lot
of stories out there still and this is recently, as
in within the last few weeks, about women's inductions being
delayed going into the wards, starting the induction process and
they're not being birth suites or resources available for that
(07:18):
to continue, so they're spending two or three days on
the maternity ward waiting for the resources so that they
can continue to have their induction. So that you know,
you're putting additional pressure on the level six birth suites,
because instead of having these ladies looked after by their midwives,
possibly downstairs, they're now being looked after by the team upstairs.
(07:41):
Who you know, it's fairly clear from where I'm standing
and from the women I'm talking to, are already very stretched,
very under resourced. Yet and the more women in the system, well.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Tell me, like I guess from your perspective, like you've seen,
you know, women at the moment that due to give birth.
They are obviously feeling as though Royal Darwin Hospital is
quite overwhelmed.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
They are, they are, Katie, and I mean it's consistent
with you know, we've seen the code yellow. We know
the emergency department is completely overwhelmed. We know we have
bead shortages and stuff resourcing shortages, and then that's coupled
with the closure of the private maternity services and now
the you know, the suspension of the MGP program for birthing.
(08:29):
The mums out there that are pregnant due to give
birth in the coming days and weeks are very nervous,
very concerned about you know, what level of care is
going to be available. You know, are they going to
present to birth weeks and be turned away or present
to birth weeks and not have a birth suite available
for them.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
It's you know, it's a worry, like absolutely, it's a
it's a stressful situation then for mums, you know, and
particularly for first time mums, but for all moms that
are going to give birth and wondering about you know,
what it's going to mean for them. Tessa. Look, we'll
continue to have discussions about this. We might try and
catch up with the nursing and mid we're re union
on the show tomorrow. We'll certainly put in a request
(09:11):
to get some further detail from the department and from
the minister. I really appreciate you getting in contact with
us and making us aware of what's going on.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, thanks, Katie. I know it's a real concern and
I mean obviously for me it no longer impacts on
me personally. But if women aren't advocating and telling their
stories and sharing these issues and keeping this issue front
and center in the media, then it's not going to improve,
and we really really need it to improve. There needs
(09:43):
to be systemic change. There needs to be more funding.
We need to look at our recruitment and retention policies
for midwives and obviously, then also the issue about whether
or not we can re establish private maternity services in
the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Yep, sport on. Well, Tessa, I really appreciate your time
this morning. Thank you so much for having a chat,
no problem, Thanks for having me on Katie anytime. Thank
you
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