Healthscope shock: Darwin Private Hospital to end birthing services in April
Obstetrics and maternity services at the NT’s only private hospital are about to be stopped. Read the latest.
Northern Territory
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Declining birthrates and “operational issues” were behind Thursday’s shock announcement Healthscope had ordered the shutdown of birthing and maternity services at Darwin Private Hospital from April 17.
Healthscope NT manager Tim Daniel said the number of births at DPH had fallen from about 700 in 2013 to fewer than 300 over the past year.
The DPH maternity section employs 16 full time and 10 part time staff, with about 70 expectant mums currently impacted by the shutdown.
Of those, about 30-40 women will require alternative services for their delivery.
Simultaneous to Healthscope’s Darwin announcement, the company said services at Hobart Private Hospital would be cut from August 20.
The timing anomaly drew a furious response from Australian Nurses Federation NT branch secretary Cath Hartcher, who shredded Healthscope for not consulting before the announcement.
“It’s disgusting the way that Healthscope have gone about releasing the information and telling the staff about their possible job losses, or redirecting them within a different line of work at Healthscope,” Ms Hartcher said.
“Staff only found out this morning after the first lot of media was announced about it and the way they’ve gone about it was very poor.
“They’ve given eight weeks for the closure from today and they’ve given those women in Hobart six months for the change. Why are they treating Territorians like second-class citizens.”
Mr Daniel did not provide a reason for the short turnover between annoumement and closure and hinted at the possibility of services being extended.
“At some point there has to be a line in the sand, for want of a better word, around the closure of the service,” he said.
“Today we are announcing the closure, which is April 17, but we’re actually taking that feedback away. This is really the beginning of that discussion for us to consider if we’re able to extend that in order to try and cater for as many patients or as many birthing mothers that are currently on the waiting list.”
Earlier, Health Minister Steve Edgington and Solomon MP Luke Gosling described the closure as “disappointing”.
Late Thursday, Mr Edgington flagged a 9am event at Darwin Private Hospital, expected to be a white knight announcement
NT Australian Medical Association president Robert Parker said he understood Minister Edgington had known about the closure for at least six months.
His office issued a media release early Thursday, before Healthscope had formerly made the announcement, which indicated prior knowledge of the closure.
Darwin Private Hospital general manager Tamara Sweeney said about 2000 women a year had babies at Royal Darwin Hospital, which is expected to pick up much of the birthing slack resulting from Healthscope’s shutdown.
Hospital to cut birthing services in the Northern Territory
Obstetrics and maternity services at Darwin Private Hospital are about to be stopped, with operator Healthscope set to make a formal announcement at 1pm today.
Healthscope bosses this morning briefed Darwin Private Hospital staff about the changes, which will mean hundreds of extra mothers every year will need to access already stretched birthing services at Royal Darwin Hospital.
The changes will come in from April 17, with the final maternity booking on April 10. Healthscope said patients with births scheduled after that date would be provided with personalised support to help them transition to alternative maternity services, including Royal Darwin Hospital.
The closure will mean the end of birthing and obstetrics services in Darwin Private Hospital’s much-loved Jabiru ward.
Healthscope said the decision was made after an extensive review of the service in the face of “significant declining” private birthrates in Darwin and operational challenges including local skills shortages.
It said from 700 births in 2013, that number was less than 300 last year and there were increasing difficulties in accessing experienced clinicians and paediatricians. Indemnity insurance for paediatricians and obstetricians is also over $100,000 a time.
Healthscope NT manager Tim Daniel said the announcement, formally due at 1pm today, “was one we wish we didn’t have to make”.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision - we understand the significance of maternity services to families and the community, and we deeply regret the inconvenience and concern that the loss of this service will cause,” he said.
“Closing a service is always a last resort option. Over the past 12 months, we have carefully looked at a range of options for the maternity service at Darwin Private Hospital, including different service models and a reduction in capacity.
“Unfortunately, operational issues have become overwhelming.”
Mr Daniel said staff and doctors at Darwin Private had been briefed this morning on the intention to close the maternity service.
“Today’s announcement in no way reflects on the professionalism and dedication of our maternity team here at Darwin Private, who have provided outstanding care to thousands of families over many years,” Mr Daniel said
“We are committed to supporting our patients and staff through this transition period. Our priority now is to ensure continuity of care for expectant mothers and to assist our dedicated healthcare professionals who have been providing exceptional care.
“We will be working with our impacted people to explore opportunities to work in other areas of Darwin Private Hospital wherever possible, including offering skills retraining,” Mr Daniel said.
He said Healthscope is committed to working with NT Health over coming weeks on arrangements to transition Darwin Private’s maternity service to other maternity services co-ordinated across NT Health.
“We’ve been very grateful for the understanding and support offered by NT Health, and we will work closely with them to ensure all maternity patients have a smooth transition of their care to other services,” he said.
“We will also work with NT Health to explore employment opportunities for Darwin Private maternity staff.
“Our priority now is to ensure continuity of care for expectant parents and to support our dedicated healthcare professionals who have been providing exceptional care.”
He said no other services are impacted at Darwin Private Hospital as a result of this decision.
Other clinical specialities at Darwin Private, including gynaecological and pediatric surgical services, would continue as usual for patients.
Solomon MP Luke Gosling said the closure was a “devastating blow to local families and an abdication of responsibility to the community” and called on Healthscope to reverse “the shortsighted decision”.
“Healthscope’s decision to shut its maternity ward in Darwin is an unacceptable betrayal of Territory families who deserve better,” Mr Gosling said.
The closure of the Darwin ward will place immense strain on the already overburdened public hospital system, forcing more women into stretched services that are struggling to keep up with demand.
“Darwin’s expectant mothers should not be forced into an overburdened public system because a corporate giant prioritises profit over patient care,” Mr Gosling said. “This closure will put unnecessary pressure on our public hospitals, stretching resources and impacting the quality of care for all Territorians.”
Territory Health Minister Steve Edgington said the move was “disappointing”.
He said the government would “act swiftly” to ensure there are “alternative private maternity models and experiences” in Darwin.
“This news will be distressing for many Territorians,” Mr Edgington said.
“All expectant families affected by the closure will be contacted to reassure them that safe and positive care will be provided throughout the transition to Royal Darwin Hospital.
“Given today’s announcement, the CLP Government will act swiftly to ensure there are alternative private maternity models and experiences in Darwin.
“We will also work with Darwin Private Hospital staff affected by the closure to provide fast-track employment options.”
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Originally published as Healthscope shock: Darwin Private Hospital to end birthing services in April
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