1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Three sixty with Katie Wolf thanks to Joyce Main, Darwin 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: hans O and Stuart Highway Beer. 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: Matt Matt Hepworth filling in for Katie Wolf this morning. 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 2: Right now, we are four days into the national role 5 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 2: out of Phase one B of the COVID nineteen vaccine. 6 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 2: To find out how it's going in the Northern Territory. 7 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: Is the Australian Medical Association Northern Territory President, Doctor Robert Parker. 8 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: Dr Parker. Good morning morning, Matt. Dr Parker. 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 2: Four days into Phase one B. How's the role out 10 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 2: been so far in the Northern Territory. 11 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 3: Well, I haven't heard a lot of negative stuff, so 12 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 3: that's probably in the case that that's going according to plan. 13 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 3: I'd be interesting. I mean, I haven't heard from my 14 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 3: local GPS, but I had mkesh Heikilwohl, who's a former 15 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 3: AMA president and a Victorian GP. I think we're talking 16 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 3: about some of the problems he was facing in Melbourne 17 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 3: about large numbers of people requesting appointments, having to shift 18 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 3: appointments and whatever. So I'd imagine how local members and 19 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 3: local gps are possibly facing similar issues. But I haven't 20 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 3: had any direct feedback about that. 21 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: Dr Parker. 22 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: For those who don't know who is eligible for Phase 23 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,199 Speaker 2: one B, well your. 24 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 3: Knowledge, I think it's people over fifty five Indigenous people 25 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 3: people at risk, So I haven't got the criteria in 26 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 3: front of me, but it's more My understanding is more 27 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 3: vulnerable individuals you might be at risk of consequences from 28 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 3: the covert virus. 29 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: We heard from the Palmerston GPA superclinic yesterday that they 30 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 2: are going to begin administering the vaccine from today. Do 31 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,479 Speaker 2: we know how many places across the territory are delivering 32 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 2: the vaccine as part of Phase one B? 33 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 3: My understanding is, again I probably need to be corrected 34 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 3: on this. Maybe ten general practices around the territory have 35 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 3: been allocated to deliver it, but I couldn't give you 36 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 3: any jest number. 37 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: That's all right. 38 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: We also, when we're speaking to them yesterday, we heard 39 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 2: that they're going to start off slow just to make 40 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 2: sure everything, all the policies and procedures are in place. 41 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: Today. 42 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: I think they set around sixty but that's expected to 43 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 2: ramp up for them in the coming weeks. 44 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: Would that be the same with other gps as well? 45 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 3: That would probably be the casious. 46 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 2: Now do we know obviously that will increase. As you 47 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 2: mentioned in the coming weeks as well, we had heard 48 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 2: some reports of delays in shipments and the overall roll 49 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 2: out across the nation. I know there was a bit 50 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 2: of back and forth between the Commonwealth government and the 51 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 2: Northern Territory government last week about the astrosenica vaccine. 52 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: Where is that at at the moment. 53 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 3: I've had no further information about it. You probably need 54 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 3: to talk to you. Yeah, I've certainly not given any 55 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 3: information by the government about whether or not the Asia 56 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 3: vaccine has been progressed. 57 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was good to hear you mentioned before that 58 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: you've had you know, what are we in four days in? 59 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: No negative feedback so far as well. Do you think 60 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 2: as the vaccine rollout goes on and more people get 61 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 2: vaccinated there seems to be an increase in public confidence? 62 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 3: Well, certainly, I think certainly if you've got the vaccine 63 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 3: on board, I think that will raise public morale. I mean, yeah, 64 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 3: it's almost a given that's going to happen. 65 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: And doctor Parker, as the vaccine roll out goes on, 66 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 2: how is that going to look in some of our 67 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: more regional and remote communities. I mean, to get the 68 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: vaccine out to places like arnhem Land or the Tiwi 69 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,959 Speaker 2: Islands or the Berkley I imagine that's going to be 70 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 2: quite complex. 71 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 3: Well, again, obviously the Health Department's done some significant planning 72 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 3: in this regard. Again, the astronemic vaccine far better suited 73 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 3: for the for use in the remote communities because you 74 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 3: don't have the temperature issues associated with the fize of vaccine. 75 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 3: I think now the days you're available, I think it's 76 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 3: going to be it's going to be a significant acceleration 77 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 3: of the rollout. 78 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: That is good to hear. 79 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 2: What about yourself, doctor Parker, when were you beginning the vaccine. 80 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 3: I've had my first fives of Vaccine'm getting the next 81 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 3: one in a couple of weeks, so I had a 82 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 3: bit of a muscle ach the day after, but otherwise 83 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 3: no side ef things. So very happy so far with 84 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 3: my first mist vaccination. 85 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: What was that like, because I mean, for the last months, 86 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 2: the world has really come to a stop because of 87 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 2: this virus, and so much hope has has been waiting 88 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: on the on the rollout of the vaccine for the 89 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 2: last twelve months. What was that experience like for you 90 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 2: personally and particularly being a part of the AMA being 91 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 2: so involved, you know in the in the last twelve 92 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: months and then part of the rollout. 93 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: Now, what was that like for you? 94 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 3: Well, again I was very impressed. I mean I'm one 95 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 3: of the highest individuals for range WISH. I'm working directly 96 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 3: in clinical areas, which is why I was which was 97 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 3: why I was high priority. I was very organized. Basically 98 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 3: I had to lay for a week as I had 99 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 3: of course in Brisbane, came back, I was given an 100 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 3: appointment time, turned up to a questionnaire, feel that consent, 101 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 3: got the injection, had to wait for a few minutes 102 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 3: just to check and on the way and it all 103 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 3: went very smoothly from my perspective. 104 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,359 Speaker 1: That is good to hear. Doctor Parker. 105 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 2: A quick question with that notice for you, I know 106 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: a few months ago, in fact, it might have been 107 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 2: late last year. Now you'd flag some issues around Royal 108 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: Dalen Hospital and traffic management and the fact that there 109 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 2: is only one major road into our hospital. I know 110 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: the government we're going to look at that. Has there 111 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: been any further progress on that. 112 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 3: This has been a tend to put out to a 113 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 3: company I think it was thirty eight thousand dollars A 114 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 3: couple of about a month ago to look to actually 115 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 3: investigate traffic flow, and I, along with the Minister, look 116 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 3: forward to the results of that to obviously progress further 117 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 3: much more efficient traffic management. 118 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: There was talk that perhaps a second road could be 119 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: built into the back end of the hospital. 120 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 3: Is that the case, Well, it's complex, probably the best 121 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,239 Speaker 3: way to describe it. A second road could it could 122 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 3: probably be easily built through lines, and I think there 123 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 3: is already a sort of potential road that could be 124 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,799 Speaker 3: done there, but that obviously would impact significantly on traffic 125 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 3: flow flow through lines and dozens of lines that probably 126 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 3: have their own view on you know, a light traffic flow, 127 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 3: something developing into a heavy traffic flow, and the potential 128 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 3: for the safety for the residents and their families. The 129 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 3: other option of potentially is to build a breach further down, 130 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 3: further down Rockland's Drive, which would go into the sort 131 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 3: of southwestern part of the hospital. But that'd be obviously 132 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 3: a lot more expensive in terms of capital. So I said, 133 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 3: I look forward again to seeing what the results of 134 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 3: the traffic close study area. 135 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 2: And it recently, as you mentioned, interesting to see that 136 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 2: Dr Robert Parker from AMA n T anything else we 137 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 2: should know about from the association at the moment. 138 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 3: Well, it's good to see they have been very concerned 139 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 3: about injuries relating to scooters. Our members have been telling 140 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,600 Speaker 3: us there's been a significant number of people presenting with 141 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 3: quite serious injuries to three eds, usually after the pub's close. 142 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 3: And it's very good to see the Down Council and 143 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 3: the Scooter Organization of paying attention to our concerns and 144 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: are actually either educating or monitoring closely the use of scooters, 145 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 3: particularly when people are inebriated and probably more likely to 146 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 3: use them in a responsible way. 147 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 2: There was some suggestions that we could lock them up 148 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 2: or turn them up at night. 149 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 1: Would you support such your proposal? 150 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think in the end, I mean particularly in 151 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 3: high risk areas such as Mitchell Street after the publisher 152 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 3: the that is a major concern. But probably more of 153 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 3: a concern to me actually is a recent article published 154 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 3: by a bunch of Aboriginal academics to point out that 155 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 3: fifty percent of Aboriginal people over fifty five forty five 156 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 3: actually died from smoking related causes. I mean the process 157 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 3: of writing a letter to every territory politician pointing out 158 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 3: that you know this is having a major smoking is 159 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: having a major impact on Territorians and the health of Territorians, 160 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 3: and the fact that fifty we've got a much higher 161 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 3: rate of Indigenous population years and the rest of Australia, 162 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 3: and you know, fifty percent of those people over forty 163 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 3: five have died due to smoking righty causes. And the 164 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 3: government does desperately need to do something about smoking. The 165 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 3: fact that the that the Inenti Is won the amaty 166 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 3: Astray Award five years in a row. It's sortatly stacking 167 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 3: up in our office and perhaps all these horrible little 168 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 3: cups full of dirty cigarette butts we have presented one 169 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 3: of the minister and we have to present another one 170 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 3: on Thomas Dad's. You know, it's a national disgrace the 171 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 3: government government doing least to deal with smoking, which is 172 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 3: killing a significant number of Territorians. 173 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 2: And suit, yeah, I think something like COVID's really put 174 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 2: that on the back burner and probably not something that 175 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 2: we discuss enough by the sound of it. 176 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, certainly, certainly smoking is killing a lot more 177 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: Territorians than COVID at the moment. 178 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 2: Just finally, doctor Parker, before you go, just had a 179 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: text come in from one of our listeners. Just following 180 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 2: on from those traffic issues around r d H, the 181 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 2: text says why don't they expand services available at Palmerston 182 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 2: Hospital to take pressure of r d H. Are you 183 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 2: able to answer that or provide any further comment on. 184 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 3: That at all. Well, again, the government has to work 185 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 3: within its budget and some services are very expensive. For example, 186 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 3: if you had it steptrics operating at at Parmer's Hospital, 187 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 3: you'd have an obstetric registrar, am pediatric registrar and then 188 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 3: an aesthetic registrar on call twenty four to seven to 189 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 3: deal with that. And that's and from maybe maybe one 190 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 3: delivery every couple of days. And so you know, the 191 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 3: bureau cults of the Health Department of obviously going to 192 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 3: look at the figures and say there's just not cost effective. 193 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 3: So you know, I think there was a fairly sensible 194 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 3: plan role that when I first looked at it, about 195 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 3: what they could accommodate and how much it was going 196 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 3: to cost, and the budget issues. And I suspect the 197 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,319 Speaker 3: Health bureauquests would love to particularly since we've had those 198 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 3: issues code yellows at our the agrequently, I'd love to 199 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 3: think about more, more more services at Palmerston to take 200 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 3: some of the pressure off the age. But again it 201 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 3: has to be done in the cost effective ways. So 202 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 3: you know you and I aren't paying for paying more 203 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:51,199 Speaker 3: about tax for the health dollar. 204 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 2: Yeah exactly. Well, Doctor Robert Parker a wide range of topics. 205 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat 206 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 2: to us this morning. 207 00:09:57,880 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 3: My pleasure, Matt. 208 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: That's Dr Robert Parker. Thanks. 209 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 2: Doctor Parker from the Australian Medical Association's Northern Territory branch.