Restoring private maternity services remains a priority for the CP Government with the Minister for Health holding crisis talks with PurposeCo (formerly Healthscope) next week.The CLP Government is working to securing the future of Darwin Private Hospital and ensuring that Territorians continue to have access to private healthcare close to home.The Government has offered to enter into expanded bed buy arrangements and written directly to potential operators.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is holding crisis talks with the new Healthscope entity and has also offered to enter into expanded bed buy arrangements to help secure the long term future of private healthcare here in the Territory.
NT Health uses 'bed buys' to help manage patient flow during peak periods at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Minister for Health, Steve Edgington, said further expanding these will deliver additional beds, reduce pressure on our hard working frontline clinicians at RDH and provide stronger long term certainty for a future operator of Darwin Private Hospital.
"While we acknowledge that the appointed receivers are undertaking their legal obligations, we are now approaching one year since the receivers were appointed and Territorians still have no certainty about the future of private healthcare in the Territory.
"As part of our year of growth, certainty and security, the CLP Government is taking a proactive approach to securing the future of Darwin Private Hospital and ensuring that Territorians continue to have access to private healthcare close to home," Mr Edgington said.
The Government has written directly to potential operators encouraging them to participate in the process and consider opportunities to invest in the long term future of private healthcare here in the Territory.
"Our message is simple - if you are prepared to back the Territory, we are prepared to back you."
"As part of any future arrangements for Darwin Private Hospital, restoring private maternity services must be a priority.
"The loss of maternity services has had a major impact on Territory families and healthcare workers. This issue cannot be ignored in any future hospital management arrangements.
"The Territory's circumstances are unique and cannot be treated the same as larger southern states that have multiple private hospitals and much larger healthcare systems.
"This is why the Commonwealth Government's hands-off approach has been deeply disappointing and is contributing to longer uncertainty for Territorians.
"I will meet with PurposeCo (formerly Healthscope) next week as discussions continue on the future of Darwin Private Hospital," Mr Edgington said.
The CLP Government has also written to the receivers seeking urgent certainty in terms of the future of private healthcare services and the transition of Darwin Private Hospital to new ownership.
The CLP Government welcomes engagement with interested operators committed to delivering stable, high quality long term private healthcare here in the Territory.
Interested parties should contact the Department of Treasury and Finance via [email protected]
