00:02For Sarah, moments like this are everything.
00:06After a pregnancy loss in 2024, she wanted reassurance when she fell pregnant again last
00:12year and expected to be able to book a nuchal scan, which checks a baby's development.
00:17I'm a lost mum, so between my two boys I had a miscarriage at that 12-13 week mark and
00:24I think pregnancy is an anxious time as it is because there's so many unknowns and when
00:30you've had a loss on top of that, it's twofold.
00:33But securing an appointment was difficult, with a 300km drive to Catherine, one of her
00:39only options for a scan.
00:41For me, as a single mum, I can't do a six hour round trip to Catherine to get a scan.
00:46The 11-13 week early anatomy scan forms part of what we call early screening for genetic
00:53conditions as well as other abnormalities.
00:56So it is a really important screening test that all women should be offered in pregnancy.
01:01The NT government says nuchal scans are generally only provided in the private system, but in
01:07Darwin there is only one private service women can go to.
01:12And advocates say the issue of access extends to all scans.
01:16A survey of more than 200 women found just 31 per cent could access an 18 to 22 week morphology
01:24scan through the public system.
01:2650 per cent had difficulty getting it within the recommended time.
01:30Fewer than half were able to access a nuchal scan on time.
01:34Three women flew interstate and 24 women were unable to get the scan at all.
01:39We want the government to step in and help women get more no-cost access to scans.
01:46Bridie says a nationwide shortage of sonographers is making the problem worse.
01:51We're not attracting them, we're not paying a competitive rate compared to the big cities,
01:55and so we're having trouble retaining good quality ultrasound staff to provide the service.
02:00But the NT health minister says the government is doing enough.
02:04We're delivering every scan that we need to deliver in the public system.
02:08Sarah eventually got a scan through a cancellation list.
02:12But her experience has left her questioning whether she'd have another baby in the NT.
02:23She'll be working.
02:24She'll be working.
