Welcome to the Rural Doctors Association of Northern Territory
Newsflash
30th January 2008
Integrated maternity services needed throughout Territory
RDANT President, Dr Max Chalmers, said: “It is quite clear from Australian and international evidence that antenatal risk assessment can identify 'high risk' maternity cases which need specialist hospital care support before and during labour to achieve safe outcomes.
“However, it is also clear that the majority of maternity cases classified as ‘low risk’ should not be considered to be of ‘no risk’.
“It is important to very carefully consider the management of labour and birth risk in this majority group.
‘’RDANT does not believe urban-based midwife-only service models can be safely implemented throughout NT remote communities, due to the fact that the care that can be provided by a doctor—if needed during labour—may be much further away than that available in the city.
“RDANT welcomes debate on remote maternity services in the Northern Territory and would like to see the Territory Government bolster integrated midwife and doctor services, such as those at Gove and Katherine Hospitals.
“RDANT applauds the NT Government’s recent announcement regarding the enhancement of the integrated services in the Katherine Region, with a new mobile antenatal ultrasound service.
"It is critical for NT mothers and their babies that a birthing model which sees local doctors and midwives working together closely prevails throughout rural and settings and RDANT is very interested in discussing further enhancement of NT rural maternity services with the Government".
Dr Max Chalmers is available for comment: 0417 895 986