NT Health, Director Nursing and Midwifery, Emma Divilly says the last admission for birthing at Darwin Private Hospital was on Saturday with patients being transferred to care at RDH and private obstetricians

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now my understanding is that well, some of the last
babies have been born at Darwen Private Hospital over the weekend.
With maternity services set to end, we know that expectant
mums are going to be giving birth now at Royal
Darwin Hospital from June sixth. How is the transition going
to work and what work has been undertaken already to
ensure it is a smooth transition. Well, joining us on

(00:22):
the line is NT Health's Director of Nursing and Midwifery,
Emma Divali. Good morning to you, Emma.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Morning Katie. How are you?

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah? Really good, Great to have you on the show.
Thank you for your time this morning. Emma. What work's
been done in preparation for the additional women and bubs
expected to now be looked after at Royal Darwin Hospital.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, thanks Katie. Look yes, so from the dirty first
of May DBH actually accepted it's last maternity mission with
their services set to close on the sixth of June.
So where as of yesterday, women will call us and
will be ready to acceptive missions for private patients across

(01:06):
the Royal Dulham Hospital. So a lot of work has
been done. We have the two private obstetricans that we
have an arrangement with in place that will support women
under their cares to have their babies at Royal Dulham Hospital.
That will also be with our midwives and obviously the
Border Maternity Team support for those who are staying with

(01:29):
their private obstetricians and are let to be a private
in public. The private obstetricians will continue to provide their
routine pregnancy care in their consultation rooms over at Dallen Privates. However,
if there are any pregnancy related problems, whether it be
pain or loss of fluid or reduced baby movements, they

(01:50):
will there have been advised that they to call us
from now and that started yesterday, so they need to
call the Delivery Suite at RDH and that phone is
answered twenty four to seven Experience in your Wife, So
when that happens or if that happens, the private obtutritions
will be contacted by us and made aware of all
admissions and assessments. So we also have that the delivery

(02:13):
fleet can be contacted directly through Switch as well. We
have had two education sessions last week where women were
invited to come in and have a tour of the
sixth floor, find you meet. The team went to call
the delivery suite care straight after birth, settling into our environment,

(02:34):
what to expect, length of stay, what to expect newborn behavior,
you know, when to see help after discharge and also
around our domicillary service. So they've been which lived really well? Yeah,
that is really.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
Good to hear. Emma, no bubs or no mums coming
in as of yesterday with the changeover.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Time not yeah, yeah, you know, always expects unexpected that are.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
Not yet not yet, I mean, how like, how many
extra mums are you sort of expecting over the coming
weeks and months to now be delivering their bubbs at
Royal daar And Hospital.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Yeah, so between now and September, there are from what
we understand, there are sixty one expectant mothers who would
do to give birth between that period.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Okay, And what's the process in terms of the mums
that are choosing to sort of go through the hotel accommodation.
Is that something that still will fall under Royal daar
And Hospital or is there an external provider that then
assists those months.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
So there's kind of two parts to this. So for
anyone who is coming across with their private obstrition, they
really need to elect to be a private patient at ARDIH,
So there is information on the website. When women come
in they can fill out the patient election form. Then
with our Patient Account's department will check their eligibility and

(04:05):
that is the hospital aspect, and we also have our
patient our private patient Liaison officer that you will also
do checks around postnatal options for us. For the interim
we are providing that service. The tender process is underway
for privately practicing midwives for these two postnatal options, and

(04:29):
then that will transition to privately practicing withd VIFE once
that's done. But in the meantime, we'll have our domicillary service,
which is a fantastic service providing visits up to day ten.
And we'll also have twenty four to seven talerfrind support
that we will provide for women under these models.

Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah, right, and so should If there is an issue
then obviously that twenty they call that twenty four to
seven service and somebody.

Speaker 2 (04:57):
Will assist absolutely depending on what it is. So we
provide education discharge and obviously we've been doing these sessions
prior about when to call versus when to return the
emergency department, So you know, if it was something really urgent,
obviously it comes to the emergency department. We'll also contact
your private obstetrician. If it's something that's not urgent, but

(05:19):
you just need advice and you need to check, then
that can be over the find.

Speaker 1 (05:23):
And Emma, have you found it since you've you know
that since these you know, the visits to the hospital
have been happening and you've had that contact, your staff
have had that contact with the expectant mums. Are you
feeling as though they're becoming maybe a little bit less
anxious about this changeover?

Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah? I think so. Look, I think you know, as
we know, this has been such a shock so many women,
and we really emphasize with what they're going through, so
you know, we're not a replacement for what they were expecting,
but we do have an excellent service. We are you know,
obviously trying to make that transition as best as we can.

(06:04):
And look on Saturday was the most recent session that
we had and that was really valid, hinder and really positive.
So we are going to have another one in three
weeks and so there will be more information to come
out for further expectant mothers as well closer to the
time that they do well.

Speaker 1 (06:24):
Emma Divali, the nt Health Director of Nursing and mid
we're free. I really appreciate you having a chat with
us this morning, and I have just got one message.
Does the dom sillary service cover all of Darwin even
the rural area us one of our listeners.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
No, it doesn't, so we do have a geographical boundary.
I think it's around Humpty Dew way. That said, we
do provide clinic at the Palmerston Health Precinct for people
to come to, so it's not so far. And we
also people want to come to the birth center for
whichever reason. If they don't want to be a visited

(07:01):
at home, they can come there, so we do provide
alternative options for then as well.

Speaker 1 (07:05):
Well. And look, I you know I had my bubbs
at Royal Darwin Hospital quite some years ago now, Emma.
But I know it was fantastic service it had been
that I received. I know that. You know a friend
of mine's just messaged through and said Katie, I had
three wonderful births at Royal Darwin Hospital. I was so
cared for through the whole process, even once I was

(07:26):
discharged home. These new mums are going to be in
wonderful hands, says that message.

Speaker 2 (07:33):
Absolutely, we're really lucky to have such a fantastic rhythmicity
service here in the team.

Speaker 1 (07:37):
Well Int Health Director of Nursing and Midway three Emma Divlie,
I really appreciate your time. I know you're a busy woman.
Thank you for having a chat

Speaker 2 (07:46):
With us today, Mary, Thanks Katie, thank you