00:02After months of uncertainty and tireless campaigning, it was an announcement that allowed many to breathe a sigh of relief.
00:10The Darwin Private Hospital set to be in new hands amid promises of bringing back private maternity care.
00:16It does give Territory families a lot of hope and optimism that we can see the resumption of services. It's
00:22something we haven't had for 14 months.
00:24Current operator HealthScope shut the private maternity ward in 2025, citing staffing issues and declining birth rates.
00:32The closure left many women in the lurch and forced the public hospital to absorb hundreds of extra births.
00:39A tumultuous period, the NT health minister says he's confident will be over soon, despite no concrete agreement with the
00:47new operator to reinstate private maternity care.
00:51The AMANT also welcoming the news, but warning staffing challenges could slow progress.
00:58Maternity services don't just pop up overnight. There's a lot of things that need to be put in place.
01:02So we don't just need private obstetricians. We also need midwives. We need paediatricians. We need anaesthetists.
01:09And they say other hospitals urgently need more staff too.
01:12Our workforce at all times at Royal Darwin Hospital is stretched to capacity across almost every department and we've normalised
01:20a state of crisis.
01:21We believe the next step is really enshrining in the private hospital operating licence that maternity services must be offered.
01:29That would give Territory families a lot more certainty.
01:32Calvary Healthcare has been contacted by the ABC over whether it is committed to reinstating private maternity care, but did
01:40not receive a response.
01:41Calvary Healthcare has been contacted by the AMANT.
01:41Calvary Healthcare has been contacted by the AMANT.
01:41Calvary Healthcare has been contacted by the AMANT.
01:43Calvary Healthcare has been contacted by the AMANT.
01:44You
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