The Northern Territory government has outlined its response to Thursday's announcement from Darwin Private Hospital, that it will close the Territory's only private maternity ward in less than two months. The government says it will work with insurers to provide the option of a luxurious post-natal retreat for families locked out by the private hospital, and assurances that the public system won't bear the cost.
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TVTranscript
00:00A shock to private hospital patients and staff, but not so surprising for the Territory's
00:06Health Minister.
00:08Just a couple of weeks ago we had the final date that those services would close.
00:13The Government had been living in hope for months that Darwin Private Hospital would
00:17not shutter its maternity ward.
00:19Probably around about late September, early October, I was certainly made aware that HealthScope
00:24were having some difficulties here in Darwin.
00:27114 expecting families will be transitioned to the public system when those services cease
00:32on April 17, with doctors promising high quality care.
00:37And I just want families to be reassured that they will get very good care here at Royal
00:42Darwin Hospital.
00:43After giving birth, families with private health cover can choose from a luxury postnatal
00:48retreat at a hotel or a home package, each with 24 hour support from a private practising
00:55midwife.
00:56Details about how patient care will transition from the private system to the public and
01:02then back again are currently being discussed between Government and insurers.
01:07So far those negotiations have proved very positive and those costs will be borne by
01:11the private health care providers.
01:14Midwives and nurses at the private hospital, who will lose their jobs in April, will be
01:18welcomed into the public system with open arms.
01:21We'll work with them to fast track employment and provide them with, we've already provided
01:27their options to them and we'll have them come over and meet with us if they want to
01:31and do a tour, show them our services and meet us and we'll try and make that transition
01:36as smooth as possible.
01:37The public system ready to step in to cover the failures of private health care.