Darwin private maternity closure: Expectant mums might fly South as petition hits over 1,000 names
Expectant mums affected by the closure of private maternity services say they are considering flying elsewhere to give birth or move from Darwin after private care packages appear “unsafe” and insufficient.
Politics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Territorian Brooke Illingworth would describe herself as someone who enjoys her privacy.
When she found out she was pregnant last year, Brooke did not want to announce the news publicly even on Facebook.
But with the announcement that the private maternity services will close in Darwin on June 6 with no solution in sight, that changed.
Now a couple of months away from becoming a mum for the first time, she is talking to anyone who will listen.
Brooke, who has spoken to various news agencies and been posting online, said: “I decided if I don’t do it, nothing will happen.
“Not because these other women won’t, but because they’re also scared.”
The expectant mum is one of many who will be giving birth after the cut-off date announced by Healthscope and has been left “in limbo” about what services will be available.
In February, Healthscope made a shock announcement that they would be stopping birthing and maternity services at Darwin Private Hospital due to declining birthrates and “operational issues”.
A plan was made to extend the services until June 6 and the NT Government stepped in to offer private maternity packages.
These all include birthing at Royal Darwin Hospital with different offers for afterbirth care such as a post-natal retreat package at a “comfortable” hotel and 24/7 telephone support.
However, the plans suggested have been criticised by families and health professionals for being vague, insufficient and “unsafe”.
Brooke, aged 24, who is also studying business and works as a financial controller, said her studies were suffering right now as she has been pouring her energy into trying to get action.
“I didn’t realise how much the pregnancy, how tired I would be, so it’s taking a toll,” she said.
“I’ve been in tears many times to my partner.
“Pregnancy wise, I’m trying to keep a really positive vibe on it because I’ve loved every minute about being pregnant.
“But with everything that’s going on I’m so stressed. I’m trying to forget about it but it’s hard to because we’re getting so close to the end and we know that we have no answers for what is going to happen after birth.
“I feel like we shouldn’t have to fight this hard to get some answers for it.
“We are a capital city and we should have choices and to be ripped out in the middle of our pregnancies … it’s just ridiculous.”
Despite loving Darwin, she added: “Long term, I don’t see us sticking around.
“If things can change like that in an instant here with no other options available and for the government to act so poorly on it, I don’t feel comfortable.”
Petition launched
Healthscope’s private maternity services in Hobart were also facing closure earlier this year but in February, the Albanese Government said they will provide $6 million in funding to support the expected increase in demand across services.
However, there has been no such offer for Darwin as of yet.
In response to Healthscope’s announcement and lack of information, a petition was launched demanding “transparent solutions” for private maternity care for families in Darwin.
It has already gained over 1,000 signatures and Territorians have donated over $700 to help continue to raise support for the campaign.
The petition was also designed to request long-term solutions around having a private healthcare choice in the NT.
A spokesperson for the petition said: “So that we remain a capital city with options when it came to maternity healthcare. Particularly when it comes to our ambition to grow the population and the economy.
“We certainly hope (the government listen to) the amount of community support and the fact that it’s not just expectant mothers who are signing it.
“It’s men and women, it’s families who have already stopped building their family but they’re concerned as community members about maintaining that choice and being a city that still has that choice in your healthcare.”
Muirhead mum, Danielle, might travel interstate for birth
Despite some health professionals assuring the affected families that this is not a step back in terms of health and safety, some doctors have warned these types of closures will result in poorer health outcomes.
A recent figure provided by the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said 18 private maternity units have shut since 2018.
With reports of mum’s giving birth in hallways, as reported by ABC news, and understaffed wards at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH), mum-of-one, Danielle Mulhall, worries the additional births transferred to the public hospital will increase risk.
Also mentioning the high stillbirth rates in the NT, the Muirhead resident said: “All of those things just mean that it’s becoming a perfect storm for the maternity space.”
Danielle’s birth in September will be hers and husband, Christian’s, second.
Their first, Declan, aged two, was born in Darwin Private Hospital. Danielle, aged 33, ended up having quite a traumatic birth after having a retained placenta and haemorrhaging after the birth.
But she said the care she and her family received was “exceptional” and due to her concerns about the safety of the offered packages, she said if nothing changes, she will be flying interstate for the birth of their daughter.
Danielle said: “It’s a lot of extra expense and stress, but the capacity issues at Darwin and not being able to have the after-care that we really value, for us, it’s the least worst option.
“We take it as a matter of great pride that our son was born a Territorian.
“Our daughter won’t be born so that’s really quite heartbreaking for us.”
For many who have private health services, they argue it is not a case of public vs. private but rather it is about choice.
Danielle added: “It’s important because we have the right to have choice in how we give birth. It’s one of the most life changing moments of your life.
“And if it feels really sad to know that we are the only capital city that won’t have that choice.
“It’s also about people being able to make that choice who have the means that takes the pressure off the system.
“If we’re suddenly having everyone going into that system, that system doesn’t work well and safely for anyone.”
Police forced to use OC spray and dodge rocks during arrest attempt
Police have been forced to use OC spray and dodge rocks after allegedly being set upon by a group of bystanders while trying to arrest a 25-year-old man in the Top End.
$100m toll of spiking NT prison numbers
A half a billion spend on the Territory’s prisons is being driven by rising prisoner numbers. See why the government has not ruled out further cash splashes on Corrections.