The real reason for the Royal Darwin Hospital rudely and abruptly terminating its 20 year dealings with gynaecological oncologist , Professor Margaret Davy, may well be because she spoke out about other matters at the hospital. During her on air interview with Julia Christensen in the Darwin ABC breakfast radio show, she was asked what the “motivation “ was for ending her services. “I do tend to be outspoken , and I am concerned about governance and openness in some other areas of the hospital,” the highly respected doctor replied. “ It was easier to get rid of me than address the issues.”
In particular, she had been concerned about the way obstetricians and gynaecologists were appointed at Royal Darwin Hospital . All these specialists at RDH were overseas trained. Australian trained specialists had not been able to fill such positions. Indeed , over the years, many Australian doctors in this field had rung up to see if any jobs were vacant and were told there were none. A few weeks later, they found out an overseas person had been appointed. Professor Davy said her concern was that there was no openness in advertising the positions Australia wide so that Australian trained doctors could apply .
Since her last visit to Darwin in August, there had been two more specialists , both overseas trained, added to the general pool at Royal Darwin. Ms Christensen asked if overseas doctors were appointed because they were “ cheaper,” to which Professor Davy said she did not know. Later on, Professor Davy said Dr Len Notaras of RDH had made statements about her which were not correct. He had said she would be able to tender for a contract to provide her services , yet this work had already been let to the Get Well group in Brisbane. Dr Notaras had also said she would be coming up from Adelaide three more times this year , yet the hospital had not been in contact with her to arrange details of the supposed visits.
In particular, she had been concerned about the way obstetricians and gynaecologists were appointed at Royal Darwin Hospital . All these specialists at RDH were overseas trained. Australian trained specialists had not been able to fill such positions. Indeed , over the years, many Australian doctors in this field had rung up to see if any jobs were vacant and were told there were none. A few weeks later, they found out an overseas person had been appointed. Professor Davy said her concern was that there was no openness in advertising the positions Australia wide so that Australian trained doctors could apply .
Since her last visit to Darwin in August, there had been two more specialists , both overseas trained, added to the general pool at Royal Darwin. Ms Christensen asked if overseas doctors were appointed because they were “ cheaper,” to which Professor Davy said she did not know. Later on, Professor Davy said Dr Len Notaras of RDH had made statements about her which were not correct. He had said she would be able to tender for a contract to provide her services , yet this work had already been let to the Get Well group in Brisbane. Dr Notaras had also said she would be coming up from Adelaide three more times this year , yet the hospital had not been in contact with her to arrange details of the supposed visits.
Professor Davy felt there was a likelihood that the health of indigenous women would suffer under the new arrangement which would see male doctors brought to the Territory on a rotation basis. It was not culturally appropriate for indigenous women to be examined by a male. Professor Davy’s work has shown that there is a higher incidence of cervix and vulva cancer in the Territory than in the south but a lower incidence of ovarian cancer. (See previous post on this subject below .)
