1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: We do know that ambulance response times in Darwin are 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: sitting at their highest level in ten years. That's according 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: to a new report from the Australian Productivity Commission, which 4 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: says that the average weight times was twenty three point 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: six minutes last financial year. That's two minutes longer than 6 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: the previous year. Now joining me to break down the 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: numbers is Andrew Thomas, who is Saint John's Director of 8 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: Ambulance Services. Good morning to you, Andrew. 9 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: And a good morning to you Kadie. 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: Great to have you on the show. Andrew, there has 11 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: obviously been that increase in wait times for territories. What's 12 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: the cause of the increased waight times it. 13 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 2: Look I think it's important to know. And while it 14 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 2: sounds like there's been a dramatic increase in the wait times, 15 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 2: the time that comes through there as being reported, is 16 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: the time that it is to get to ninety percent 17 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: of calls. So that in the last twelve months across 18 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 2: anial centers across Australia, there's been significant increases in terms 19 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 2: of workload and that relates to the high demand related 20 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 2: to COVID nineteen. We had a really bad flu season 21 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 2: and there's a lot of other impacts on the health 22 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 2: system that are meaning that obviously at times it's taking 23 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 2: longer for our crews to get to cases. But you know, 24 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 2: we in looking at that and that the Productivity Commission 25 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 2: looks at all services across Australia and tries to compare 26 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 2: them in some way. You know, we're actually the third 27 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: quickest service across Australia behind ACT and WA. So while 28 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 2: the times have extended slightly in terms of getting those 29 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 2: average the ninetieth percent of cases, you know, obviously we're 30 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 2: still you know, getting to our people as quick as 31 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: we can and we you know, obviously you know that's 32 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 2: indicative of an increase in our workloads. So you know, 33 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 2: we've seen workload across that twelve month reporting period across 34 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory increased by twenty one percent, so cases 35 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 2: have gone from around fifty four thousand to sixty six 36 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 2: thousand over that twelve month period. 37 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: And Andrew, when you talk about those response times, does 38 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: that include your really critical patience or are you getting 39 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: out to them faster? 40 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 2: So that response times is off for all of our 41 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 2: what we call our priority one cases. So that's the 42 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 2: ones where you see and hear the mbulance going lights 43 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 2: and siren. So it is a national way that we 44 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 2: look at response times and while the other figure that's 45 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 2: looked at around that is what it takes to get 46 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: to fifty percent of our cases. And you know, again 47 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 2: we were the third quickest across the across Australia with 48 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: us getting to fifty percent of our cases within just 49 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 2: over eleven minutes for an emergency job. So obviously we 50 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 2: understand that when people are calling trippers zero and you 51 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 2: know it is a bad situation and you know they've 52 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: got an emergency evolving in front of themselves there that 53 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 2: they want to have an ambulance there as soon as possible. 54 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 2: You know, obviously we're trying to resource and make sure 55 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 2: that we've got crews to respond. But you know, obviously 56 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 2: increasing workloads and pressures and demand from the health system 57 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 2: are flying into some delays. So we're continuing to work 58 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: at how we can do about putting on extra cruise, 59 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 2: how we can work with the hospital about freeing up resources, 60 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: and you know, looking at our staffing and the opportunities 61 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: to improve to obviously work through those quick response times. 62 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 2: And I think the other important thing is to remember 63 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 2: with when you do call Triple zero, is that while 64 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 2: the ambulance is coming and it's on its way, is 65 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: that there is health advice and that emergency care being 66 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 2: operated by provided by our amazing call takers, that you 67 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 2: start that level of care while. 68 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: We're on our Waid Andrew, we have been talking a 69 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: lot about alcohol on the show show in recent days. 70 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: Are there a lot of alcohol related call outs for 71 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: Saint John's as well? And does that have an impact 72 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: when you talk about those response times. 73 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 2: Because I think we've seen an increase across all sectors 74 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 2: of these case load that we go to. You know, 75 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 2: we've seen you know, our highest category of case that 76 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 2: we attend to is what and it sounds a bit 77 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: ironic when you say, but it's what we call a 78 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 2: sick person, which is a code that which puts in 79 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 2: and covers a raft of sort of more minor medical 80 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 2: ailments and whatever else. But you know, we have seen increase, 81 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 2: for instance, in assaults over the last twelve months. And 82 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 2: you know, we've seen that increases in particularly in around 83 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: respiratory cases. That equates to some of the as I said, 84 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: the flu and the COVID nineteen cases. So we've seen 85 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 2: that dramatic sort arise across all of our areas and 86 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 2: whatever else, which is that you know, the productivity report 87 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: there when it tries to compare things, is that on 88 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 2: average per thousand population, so John is responding to two 89 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: hundred and sixty seven cases per thousand population, which is 90 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,239 Speaker 2: the second highest in Australia. Only to plan that there's 91 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 2: a higher level. It shows that our crews are doing 92 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: lots of responses and that you know, in very difficult 93 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 2: and trying times. And so you know, our paramedics and 94 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 2: our patient transport offices and our comms guys are doing 95 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 2: an amazing job with the increased pressure that they're going on, 96 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 2: and we're doing the best we can to get to 97 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 2: people as quick as we can. And obviously, you know, 98 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 2: we're continuing to try and find ways that we make 99 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 2: sure that we're there to respond we're needed. 100 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: I was going to ask and Andrew, is they sort 101 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: of work underway to see whether those response times can 102 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: be improved to any degree or do you feel as 103 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: those things might level out a little bit more as 104 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: you know, as the concerns around covid us starting to 105 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: sort of you know, I guess to minimize. 106 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 2: Well, I think while and while we've spoken around that 107 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 2: the impacts of COVID, you know, saw us with some 108 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 2: some of the delays, and that a lot of that 109 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 2: was related to the extra ppe and the decontamination processes 110 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 2: that our crews are going through through that period of time, 111 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: as well as obviously the caseload that came from there. 112 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: But we're continuing to see an escalation in our workload 113 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:30,239 Speaker 2: and it's you know, that growth in workload. It will continue. 114 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 2: So we're working about putting on extra cruise. We're actively 115 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: recruiting across Australia and you know, each and every ambulance 116 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: service at the moment is recruiting paramedics like crazy because 117 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: they're all in a similar boat where they're seeing that 118 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 2: escalation of workload. But you know, we're looking to try 119 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 2: and a track people to the territory. We've got the 120 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 2: universities that are up here that are now producing the 121 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: students who are studying paramedicine up here. They're all in 122 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 2: their last the first cohort in both the universities are 123 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:03,239 Speaker 2: now in last year and you know, so we'll hopefully 124 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 2: see some territory trained and territory local staff coming into 125 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 2: the next someone else that you know, it will allow 126 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: us to build our capacity and put on those extra 127 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 2: resources to meet demand. 128 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: Well, Andrew, I appreciate your time this morning. Look, I 129 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: know that there'll be some people listening who are thinking, 130 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: oh goodness me. You know, how are we in a 131 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: situation where our response times are sitting at the highest 132 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: level in ten years. But as you've touched on, there 133 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: does sound as though there's a lot of factors at play. 134 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: It also sounds like there is quite a bit of 135 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: work underway and those staffing issues right across sort of 136 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: our health sectors at the moment seem to be having 137 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: a big impact. 138 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, they do. And you know, as I said, I 139 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 2: think we're all working and you know understand that we're 140 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 2: all trying to address you know, that capacity to manage 141 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: the escalation in health requirements and you know, so we're 142 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 2: working with that. But I think the other important thing 143 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: that came out of that report was that you know, 144 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 2: we had one of the highest patient satisfaction levels of 145 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: any service across Australia, with ninety nine percent of people 146 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 2: that were surveyed independently showed that they rated the care 147 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 2: and the satisfaction in our paramedics as good or very good. 148 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 2: So you know, I think we're obviously delivering high quality 149 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 2: care to the staff and that and that's our role 150 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 2: and that's what we want to continue to do well. 151 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: Saint John's Director of Ambulance Services, Andrew Thomas. I really 152 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 1: appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very much for 153 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: having a chat with us. 154 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 2: Thanks Statie, thank you