1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: But we are certainly continuing our discussion today around the 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: situation with health Scope, and we know that there are 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: plenty of people really quite concerned about what is unfolding now. 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Healthscope issued a statement a little earlier saying all Healthscope 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: hospitals will continue operating, no impact on hospitals, staff or patients. 6 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: An additional one hundred million dollars in liquidity provided to 7 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: support operations. Healthscope management remains in place and focused on 8 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: patient care. But as you'd imagine, you know, despite that 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: statement coming out, I think a lot of us are 10 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: still thinking, well, what is this all going to mean? 11 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: And certainly I would imagine someone with a lot of 12 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 1: questions is the AMA's new president here in the Northern Territory, 13 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: Doctor John Zorbis. Good morning to you, Doctor. 14 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 2: Zorbis, Morning Katie, Thanks for having us. 15 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now, 16 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: first off, I mean what was your reaction when you 17 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: learned or certainly had it confirmed that this was indeed 18 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: going to be happening, that they were going into receivership 19 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: or into this situation that they're in. 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, it wasn't a surprise to us. I think we've known, 21 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 2: there've been problems here since the very public fight that 22 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: Healthscope had with private health insurers, and there wasn't just Healthscope. 23 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: It was a fairly drawn out battle around how much 24 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: private health insurers provide and how much hospitals charge. But 25 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: we could see the writing on the wall back then 26 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 2: in terms of health Scope and finances and not surprised 27 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 2: by what's unfolded. 28 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: So what does it mean when it comes to operations 29 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: or is that still unknown at this point in time. 30 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 2: Healthscope have made statements and assurances around keeping operations going. 31 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: I think it's been really important for us to see 32 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 2: that come off Bank and I believe Westpac as well 33 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: have come to the table to support that. Now Healthscope 34 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: say they've got enough money to keep their hospitals ticking 35 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: over and the operations will continue as normal. Our biggest 36 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: concern is for how long. I mean, this is just 37 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: a band aid on a dam. We need to we 38 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: need to make sure that we've got a plan going forward. 39 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: Doctors Orbis, please correct me if I'm wrong, but my 40 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: understanding as well. You know, when you look at the 41 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: private system here in the Northern Territory, is it some 42 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: of those private specialists that come to you know, to 43 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory do some work at the private hospital, 44 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: but then sometimes do work at the public as well. 45 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: Is that the case and what could this mean with 46 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: some of those visiting specialists. 47 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, that's the case here and that's generally the 48 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: case across the country. You do see a lot of 49 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 2: crossover between doctors that work in the private and doctors 50 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 2: that work in the public. It's it's you know, in 51 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: most places unusual for that to not happen, but sit 52 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 2: that also places and you know, a factor on keeping 53 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 2: people up here. We know that people enjoy different parts 54 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 2: of work. I mean, we don't just like to do 55 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: one job. We like to do lots of parts of 56 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 2: our work to keep our skills sharp and to keep 57 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 2: the job interesting. And that's a big recruitment and retention 58 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,399 Speaker 2: issue for us. There are some specialties that are really 59 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 2: heavy in the private and not so heavy in the public, 60 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 2: and if we lose those, we risk those surgeons and 61 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: positions not coming back to the NT or not staying 62 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 2: in the NT. So that's a that's a big factor 63 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 2: for us. And how this affects roll daren. 64 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: So doctors orbust water like water are some of those 65 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: specialists what are some of those healthcare professionals saying to you, 66 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: you know, now that we've learned the situation. Obviously, health 67 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: Scope saying that, you know, they've entered receivership, trying to 68 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: reassure everybody that it's business as usual. But I would 69 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: imagine that people are still feeling pretty worried. 70 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, and uncertainty's a big factor here. I mean, there's 71 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: enough money there to say it's business as usual for 72 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: their general operations for a period of time, but those 73 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 2: reassurances from health Scope don't mean anything in the long term. 74 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 2: Health Scope can't say everything's fine when the company is 75 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: in rep receivership. That's an impossible position. So you know, 76 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 2: we've we've got two main questions. One is, you know, 77 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 2: what is happening with our patients and making sure that 78 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 2: their care is paramount. And I think there's enough on 79 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: the table to say health Scopes not closing DPH doors tomorrow, 80 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: So that's reassuring. But the second priority is once this 81 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: is done and dusted, once we have a new buyer, 82 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: or once we have a different model for dyl and private, 83 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 2: how do we stop this from happening again. Because in 84 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 2: a place like Darwin, where you've got a single private 85 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 2: hospital that provides such an important service, because this isn't 86 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 2: just about you know, people with money getting their operations, 87 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 2: this is also about services they provide to RDH as well. 88 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 2: So we can't afford for this to happen again. 89 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: Doctors Orbis. We spoke to the Northern Territories Health Minister 90 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: Steve Edgington a bit earlier on the show. He said 91 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: that he is today going to be meeting with his 92 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: other station and indeed his federal counterpart, to talk further 93 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: about this whole situation. I mean, what is the AMA's 94 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: message for the health ministers and indeed the federal government 95 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: at this point in time. 96 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: We'd like to see them have a serious discussion around 97 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 2: setting up a private Hospital System Authority or formal authority, 98 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: a body that's at arm's length from the hospitals, from 99 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 2: the insurers, that's able to make a clear environment for 100 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: what private medicine looks like in Australia. So make it 101 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 2: really clear to everybody how this system works and how 102 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 2: it interfaces with the public as well. 103 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: Now in terms of you know, the situation that we're 104 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: in again, you know, like certainly all saying that it's 105 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: going to that things are going to operate as normal. 106 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 1: But do you feel as though this decision is going 107 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: to put some additional pressure on the public. 108 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 2: System right now? No, apart from the maternity issues that 109 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 2: we're already aware of. But every day and every week 110 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 2: the passes that changes, And so would I be concerned 111 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 2: if I had an operation scheduled this week at DPH. No, 112 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: I know that no doctor, no nurse is going to 113 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 2: deliver substandard care just because the money is run out. 114 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: But with each month the passes and we don't have 115 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 2: assurance or certainty around who is going to run though 116 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: on private hospital, then those they really start to stack 117 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 2: up and then we've got serious questions that need to 118 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 2: be answered. 119 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know, as you've already touched on, we've 120 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: got so many specialists that come to the Northern Territory 121 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: that obviously work out of in a lot of you know, 122 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: in a lot of instances working out of the private hospital. 123 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: We just need this to get sorted right, like, right 124 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: across the board, right across Australia percent. 125 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 2: We need to make sure that this system is fit 126 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 2: for purpose. Otherwise we've got a public system that can't 127 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: pick up the extra slack and it's not just about 128 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: you know, bringing specialists or encouraging them to come to 129 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: the NT. I mean this is also for business in 130 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 2: the NT as well. I mean it's a less attractive 131 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 2: place to come to. We don't have a functioning private 132 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 2: healthcare system and that's just a fact of life. And 133 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 2: that's a priority that we've tried to stress with the coop. 134 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 2: And we know that the CLP government is very big 135 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 2: on protecting the NT lifestyle or this is one of 136 00:06:57,480 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: those lifestyle priorities there should be a very high priority 137 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 2: for them. 138 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree with you. I mean it's something we've 139 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: spoken about at length with you know, with some of 140 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: the expectant mums, you know, in terms of the maternity services. Now, 141 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: I guess we've all been concerned that this was going 142 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: to become a broader issue in terms of health scope. 143 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: But even when you you know, you look at the 144 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: things that we've been discussing when it comes to the 145 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: maternity services and livability, you've just like, people need choice. 146 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 2: They need to know that the care they're getting is 147 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 2: the care that they're paying for in the private sector, 148 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 2: and that they've got that flexibility of choice to you know, 149 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 2: in the case of maternity, have have a birth in 150 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: the way that they want to within the confines of safety. Now, 151 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: if there was no private hospital or private maternity services, 152 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 2: you know, there is a public system there, and the 153 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 2: public product is very very good. It's one of the 154 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 2: safest in the world. But the sheer capacity issues will 155 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 2: just snow us under over time. There is only so 156 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 2: much extra capacity in the public system any to be honest. 157 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 2: That's a big resourcing, big resourcing problem for the anti 158 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 2: government and for territorians. 159 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: Well, doctor John Zorbis, thank you for joining us on 160 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: the show this morning. Of course your first interview with 161 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: us as the as the head of the AMA here 162 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory. It's good to have you on. 163 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: I've no doubt we'll be talking to you much more often. 164 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 2: Absolutely pleasure being on. 165 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: Katie, Thank you, thanks so much for your time.