1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: We've spoken quite a bit in recent weeks about Code yellow. 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: It's not being called at Royal Darwin Hospital now. Unfortunately, 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: it seems Royal Darwin Hospital's emergency department continues to be 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: under a great deal of pressure, I'm told for at 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: least the last eight days now, I'm told that staff 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: have been pushing for a Code yellow to be called. 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: That finally happened yesterday afternoon. Now joining us on the 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: line is the Australian Nursing and mid Wiffery Federation's NTI 9 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: secretary Kath Hatcha. 10 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: Good morning, Kath, Good morning Katie, Kath. 11 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,639 Speaker 1: What's the situation at the moment. From what members are 12 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:37,639 Speaker 1: telling you. 13 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 2: The situation is quite die for them. They are many 14 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 2: of the ED nurses that have come to us wouldn't 15 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 2: normally come to us. They try and navigate and you know, 16 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: get this situation under control by the normal channels through 17 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 2: the department, and for them to come to us, it 18 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 2: is kind of at their last result. What's so to speak. 19 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 2: They've got double bunking of at least eighteen cubicles, which 20 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 2: means there's not eighteen patients in there, there's you know, 21 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 2: thirty six or more it is better to double bunk 22 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 2: than leaving people untreated in the waiting room or having 23 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 2: ambulances ramped up in the waiting bays. But you know, 24 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 2: unfortunately the double bunking and the starting to ramp is 25 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: becoming a near permanent requirement now, which they hate to say, 26 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 2: but it's almost the norm. It's expected to double bunk, 27 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 2: and they haven't got the staff numbers to cope with that, 28 00:01:55,360 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 2: with nurses or doctors. And they wanted the Code yellow 29 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: to be called at least a week ago. And yes 30 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: it's finally been called, but they've really been under extreme 31 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 2: pressure this last eight to nine days, so Cass. 32 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 1: I mean, we've been talking about these code yellows not 33 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: being called for quite some time. I know that we've 34 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: spoken to you about it previously. We've spoken as well 35 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: to you know, to doctor John Zorba's good that they've 36 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: finally called it yesterday, but it is is it a 37 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: bit too late? 38 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: I don't think it's too late. Well yes I think 39 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: it is too late, but it's fine. You know, they've 40 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 2: finally done it, so that is great. But when they 41 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: were asking for it last week, that's when it should 42 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: have been enacted. They have tried to buy beds across 43 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:59,959 Speaker 2: at the Darwin Private. They have transported some patients across there, 44 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 2: but they can't accept anymore because they haven't got the 45 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: staff to open up any more beds. So the tower 46 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: block is full, but it's full of people who need 47 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 2: to be there, and the people are in ed at 48 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: Royal Darwin or Palmerston Hospitals they need to be there too. 49 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:24,559 Speaker 2: They're older people, they're sicker. The presentations haven't increased significantly, 50 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 2: they've been quite steady and quite been the same. But 51 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 2: they're people that are needing admissions because they really are unwell. 52 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: Kas in terms of you know the measures that then 53 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: get implemented to deal with the overcrowding that we're experiencing. 54 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: I mean eighteen cubicles thirty six patients at double bunking. 55 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: You know what other measures are implemented now as part 56 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: of that Code yellow to try to ease pressure in 57 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: some way. And why is it something that our nurses 58 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: had been calling for. 59 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: I guess the elective surgery is one thing they don't 60 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 2: like to push back and stop because that affects the community. 61 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 2: It affects them in the long run that the waiting 62 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 2: times for people having hip or knee replacements, etc. Are 63 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 2: going to now be pushed back. And I feel sorry 64 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: for the community if they've had their elective surgery stopped 65 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 2: for now, that is a real concern because they're in pain, etc. 66 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 2: But we need to care for those that are already 67 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 2: in the hospital. We need to manage those and not 68 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: bring anymore in to have surgery if unnecessary. Not unnecessarily, 69 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 2: but putting extra pressure where there is no bed, Yeah, 70 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 2: Cat's available. 71 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: What needs to happen here, I mean we've long spoken 72 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: about the fact that we have got a number of 73 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: aging Territorians that really need to be in a more 74 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: appropriate facility. That's something that was promised before the the 75 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 1: last federal election and they tell me is being worked upon. 76 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: But what needs to happen here to ease some of 77 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: these pressure. 78 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 2: Well, definitely having the age care patients going to appropriate facilities. 79 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 2: I believe they're in them about sixty five roughly that 80 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,679 Speaker 2: could go to an age care facility, so that would 81 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 2: be a huge pressure. This also the new ward that 82 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: they're building next to the hospital that's approximately thirty two beds. 83 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 2: You know, if you add them together, you've got nearly 84 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 2: one hundred beds extra. Trying to keep patients in their 85 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: own areas like Gov. Catherine Tenet, Greek etc. Is always helpful, 86 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 2: but that's not always possible. They need to have that 87 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: extra higher level care or surgery and therefore they do 88 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 2: need to come to Royal Darwin. There's also the hostel 89 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 2: at the hospital itself is they don't need an acute bed. 90 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 2: They can be transferred out on the campus area of 91 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: Royal Darwen Hospital and have daily care. But also some 92 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:26,359 Speaker 2: more funding from the government Federal government in particular to 93 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 2: get these extra nurses that are required in their emergency 94 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 2: departments and to open this new ward that is currently 95 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: being built. 96 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: CAAs how many extra nurses do we realistically need in 97 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: the emergency ward at Royal Darwin Hospital. 98 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 2: The matrix framework that was recently calculated in the emergency 99 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 2: department at Royal Darwin is approximately thirty two extra nurses 100 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 2: so they're fully staffed each shift. If they're not fully 101 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 2: staffed due to sickly for lack of staff, then unfortunately 102 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 2: a lot of nurses are doing double shifts and extra 103 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 2: shifts on their days off, which is also at risks 104 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: for them with their help. So we need to fully 105 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 2: cater the staff to accommodate continuously double bunking. If that 106 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:35,119 Speaker 2: is hopefully it's not going to be the norm, whether 107 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: they need to extend the emergency department and putting extra 108 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: beds in so people aren't double bunked together. So that's 109 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 2: a real occupational health and safety issue as well having 110 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 2: two people in the same cubicle. But it's better than 111 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 2: like I said before, better than having people potentially not 112 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 2: having a good eye on in the waiting room and 113 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 2: at least they're getting observed from the cubicles. 114 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: Well. Kath Hatcher, the Australian Nursing a midw Free Federation's 115 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 1: NT secretary, always appreciate your time. Thank you very much 116 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: for having a chat with us this morning and making 117 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: us aware of this situation. 118 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you. And it doesn't mean that the patients, 119 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 2: sorry the community doesn't need to go to Rayal, Darwin 120 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 2: or Palmerston hospitals, but if they can avoid that would 121 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 2: be a big help. And if they can't go to 122 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 2: the GP but it needs to be escalated to a hospital, 123 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:40,559 Speaker 2: then absolutely get the treatment that they need and they 124 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 2: will get that treatment, but they're delay in getting treated, 125 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: maybe delayed because of the extra pressures they're trying to 126 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 2: cope with at the moment. 127 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: Absolutely, yeah, thank you. And look if you can go 128 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: to the urgent care clinic if it is something that 129 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: is not life threatening, then certainly do that as well. 130 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: Kath Hatcher al ways appreciate your time. Thank you, Thanks Katie, 131 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: thanks so much.