I don’t know about you, but the past four months have had a ‘Groundhog Day’ sensation about them for me. The media in various parts of the country has continued to cover private maternity ward closures, public hospitals on maternity bypass and the stress caused to women in regional Australia by the uncertainty of whereContinue reading “A Road to Somewhere…..”
Author Archives: newnasog
A Little Less Conversation. A Little More Action.
In the month since our last newsletter, I have appeared in over 15 media pieces, attended 1 maternity workforce Roundtable and met with State and Federal politicians. Political meetings have included the Federal Opposition Leader, the Federal Assistant Health Minister and the new Queensland Health Minister Amid renewed calls for involvement of the highest levelsContinue reading “A Little Less Conversation. A Little More Action.”
Are We Accepting the Death of Private Obstetrics?
Are you losing count of the closures of private maternity units in recent years? It seems that we can’t go two months without hearing about another case of private unit closure and subsequent crisis in the already overwhelmed public system. NASOG’s fight in Cairns has current media attention, but this is not a Queensland specificContinue reading “Are We Accepting the Death of Private Obstetrics?”
No Risk Births?
As the regional maternity crisis continues to roll out across the country, Queensland Health bureaucrats are attempting to address the high-profile maternity bypass at Gladstone Hospital by enabling ‘No Risk Births’ to take place there. Superficially, this may appear to be good news for the expectant mothers of the Gladstone district. However, NASOG has aContinue reading “No Risk Births?”
Canberra. We Have A Problem.
Since I became NASOG President in 2019, I have used the word ‘Crisis’ in relation to obstetric services in almost every article, interview and meeting I have been involved in. This is not an overstatement and far from being sensationalist, the situation is worsening and demands our attention if we are to safeguard obstetric servicesContinue reading “Canberra. We Have A Problem.”
Keeping the Pressure On!
Since 2019, NASOG has been warning State and Federal Governments that without support to increase the use of private obstetrics, public obstetric units would start to collapse. Today we are reading a new story in the media almost daily about another hospital somewhere in the country (usually regional areas) that is closing its maternity unit.Continue reading “Keeping the Pressure On!”
Collaborating for Safe and Happy Births
A disturbing story appeared in the Courier Mail on Sunday 29 May 2022. Entitled Doctors slammed for ‘sticky beaking’ into births, it suggested that the human rights of birthing mothers in Queensland public hospitals were being breached by obstetricians entering the room and speaking with the labouring women. At a time when public maternity unitsContinue reading “Collaborating for Safe and Happy Births”
New Government. New Opportunities.
The Federal Election is now only 24 hours away and a close result is anticipated. The neglect by all parties of healthcare overall, but women’s health particularly, throughout the election campaign is utterly disappointing. NASOG has been regularly forwarding information about the maternity crisis in Australia and our proposed solutions to candidates from all sidesContinue reading “New Government. New Opportunities.”
More C Sections in Private Obstetric Care – But What’s the Full Story?
On 14 March 2022, The Conversation published a story titled More c-sections in private obstetric care The article references a study which showed an increased likelihood for an unplanned caesarean birth in a private hospital setting. NASOG President, A/Prof Gino Pecoraro commented on the article on Twitter and in a response to Medical Republic. ArticlesContinue reading “More C Sections in Private Obstetric Care – But What’s the Full Story?”
Responding to the Shadow of Managed Care
Honeysuckle is a glorious and fragrant climbing plant. It is a traditional favourite of many cottage gardens, filling the early days of spring with its beautiful scent and seeming to herald long and happy summer days ahead…. It is also highly invasive and aggressive and now classified as an environmental weed throughout Australia. It spreadsContinue reading “Responding to the Shadow of Managed Care”