These groups have argued consistently that the HSDP plan will result in a downgrading of services for women and threaten the women-focused wellness perspective that exists in a women's hospital. Also there has been disquiet among clinical staff at NWH about the proposal, expressed to us in a variety of forums. While the HSDP team was required to consult with the community, the impression given in public meetings was that there was no time to consider a model other than inclusion in the ASB building. 2 HSDP threatens the philosophy of a well-women's service Much of the work of a women's health service deals with well women. Childbirth, reproductive health and infertility are not illnesses or diseases.
Many women giving birth or receiving gynaecological treatment leave the hospital after short stays.
It is inappropriate to bring those women into an acute services setting and it is against the HSDP principles of separating acutely ill from ambulatory patients with minor conditions. The safety of women will not be enhanced in the ASB Women giving birth want safe services - skilled staff with the appropriate equipment and judgement to handle complex situations. Thousands of women are being asked to access services on the Grafton site to reduce very small numbers of acute hospital transfers. Again, the HSDP integration will reduce the transfer of a small number of babies in exchange for bringing thousands of women and their visitors into the very busy Grafton site. At the moment, women who start to bleed or who are concerned about their pregnancy, or who have acute gynaecological problems, arrive at NWH and step into a specialist facility.