Save the Flinders Medical Centre NICU rally. Paula Kirk, 39, with her daughter Emily, 16, who was the smallest baby ever born at FMC. Picture: Tait Schmaal. Source: News Limited
Protest at Flinders Medical Centre against State Government plan to close the neonatal Intensive Care Unit
EMILY Kirk says she would not be alive today if it wasn’t for the neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Flinders Medical Centre.
She was born premature at 24 weeks and was the smallest baby ever born at the Bedford Park hospital.
“I wouldn’t have made it to see 16 years, let alone three months, without the neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” the Sacred Heart College student said.
She and her mother, Paula, attended a rally outside the hospital today to protest against the State Government plans to close the neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
They were joined by more than 40 other people who want the NICU to stay open to support sick babies in the southern suburbs.
Under the government’s Transforming Health plan, critically ill newborns would be shifted to the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital, once it has been built on the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site.
No time-frame has been set for such a project.
Emily says she is “saddened” by the decision.
“If time is so critical, would the further travel to the city impact on critically ill babies and their mothers,” she said.
Jenni Bishop with her 11 month old daughter Kenzi at the Flinders Medical Centre NICU rally. Pic Tait Schmaal. Source: News Limited
Eden Hills mother Jenni Bishop said the unit saved her daughter Kenzi’s life when she was born premature at 38 weeks with respiratory distress disease almost 12 months ago.
“She was diagnosed with this disease which can cause multiple organ failure and be potentially fatal,” she said.
“I’d hate to think what could have happened if she had to be transferred to the Women’s and Children’s.”
She said the unit did a “fantastic job” saving her daughter’s life.
Opposition leader Steven Marshall also attended the rally, saying the proposal to move the NICU to the new North Tce hospital was “putting all our eggs in one basket”.
“This is not support by the medical fraternity and it is not supported by the community down here in the south,” he said.
“We’ve got to have choice and we have to have alternatives.”
Health Minister Jack Snelling said the highest level of care would remain at Flinders at least until a new Women’s and Children’s was built, which could be a decade away.
“I’m not sure why people are so upset at something that might not happen for 10 years,” he said.
Mr Snelling said the eventual shift of services into the city would affect only a “very, very small number” of babies.
“This is about the sickest, most frail babies getting the best care they can.”