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.”

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”

COLLABORATION IS ADDRESSING OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS

During this past week a number of key stakeholder groups were brought together by the Department of Health to reignite the discussions around the Future of Private Obstetrics in Australia. From the Government perspective there is a strong need to take increasing pressure off the public health maternity units by facilitating women’s access to theContinue reading “COLLABORATION IS ADDRESSING OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS”

A Reflection on 2020

As this year draws to a close, I would like to thank you all for your support of NASOG throughout 2020 and acknowledge the challenges we have all faced and dealt with during this unique time. As demonstrated by the number and content of the “president’s articles this year, NASOG has been tirelessly working toContinue reading “A Reflection on 2020”