1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: Joining us on the line is the Minister for Health, 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,199 Speaker 1: Steve Edgington. Good morning to your minister. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 2: Good morning Cody, and good morning to all the listeners 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 2: up there in Darwen. 5 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: Now, Minister, is that code yellow still in place at 6 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: the moment for Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional Hospitals. 7 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 2: Yes, it is, Cody, the code yellow is still in place. 8 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,639 Speaker 2: I received an update from the department last night. So 9 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 2: there still is some bed block or access to beds 10 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: there at the Royal Daren Hospital and what we're seeing 11 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 2: is still still a number of patients in the ED 12 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 2: that are waiting for treatment at the moment. 13 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: So how serious is this capacity issue right now? I 14 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: know that earlier in the week the Health Department had said, 15 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: you know, the main reason behind this is the fact 16 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: that we've got age care patients in beds that should 17 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: actually be in an age care facility. I mean, this 18 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: is something we've been talking about since Natasha Files was 19 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: the Health Minister, possibly even longer. But just first off, 20 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: how serious is this capacity issue? 21 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 2: Well, when it comes to capacity, Katie, what we do 22 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,119 Speaker 2: know is that as of a couple of days ago, 23 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,960 Speaker 2: there was around forty four age care patients in the 24 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 2: Royal dar owned hospital. So that's forty four beds that 25 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 2: could be used for acute care patients. The issue is 26 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 2: that what we want to see in the federal government 27 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 2: have finally announced a process for the sixty million dollar 28 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: commitment to build an age care facility. We want to 29 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: see age care patients in proper care facilities and families 30 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 2: deserve that. So we're really keen for the federal government 31 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 2: to move ahead with this process as quickly as possible. 32 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 2: But in the meantime, what we are doing, Katie, is 33 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: we are busy building a new ward up there in Darwin. 34 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:53,279 Speaker 2: So the new ward will consist of around about thirty 35 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: new beds and we're also building the new mental health 36 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: care facility up there as well. 37 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,559 Speaker 1: So look over me, when is that new ward going 38 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: to be operational? 39 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 2: So the new ward, we're expecting that new war should 40 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: be operational by midyear next year, so it's going to 41 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 2: be thirty two beds. It's being built alongside the emergency 42 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 2: as we speak. 43 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: Look, that is good news, I think welcome news to 44 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: a lot of listeners this morning. In the meantime, with 45 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: those forty four aged care patients, you know they need 46 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: those beads. We know that they need those beds, but 47 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: what juggling is being done by the department and by 48 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: those working in our hospitals, you know, to manage the 49 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: situation that they're currently in. And I know this has 50 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: been a juggle for many years. 51 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: Well certainly, and I want to commend all of the staff, Katie, 52 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: because I know from management down to our nurses and 53 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 2: doctors working on the floor there in Darwin at the moment, 54 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 2: they're extremely busy, but they're doing their absolute best to 55 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 2: ensure that there's a proper flow of patients through that 56 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: emergency area, trying to juggle and putting a priority on 57 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: the clinical making those clinical assessments of the number of 58 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 2: people that are sitting in ED. That's a priority for 59 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 2: our staff on the ground. So they're doing all the 60 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 2: hard yards at the moment and they should be commended 61 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: for the work that they're doing. But trying to juggle 62 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 2: access to beds at the moment is very difficult. We 63 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 2: really need that age care for somebody built asap, and. 64 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: Labor claims that the COLP scrapped funding that was allocated 65 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: towards planning for that age care center. Has the CLP 66 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: pushed the project backwards for the age care center. 67 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: No, we've never scrapped any funding, Katie, and I think 68 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: this is just another diversionary tactic from the federal government 69 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 2: because to suggest that we've ripped any money out of 70 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: the budget. What we've always said, Katie, right from the 71 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: word go, is that not only will we make land 72 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 2: available at Parmesan on the possible Parmesan Hospital grounds, will 73 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: commit twelve million dollars to do the headworks that are 74 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: necessary for that construction to go ahead. We're ready, we're 75 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 2: just waiting for the federal government to now complete the process. 76 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: And you've got to look back that election commitment was 77 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 2: made back in April. We haven't seen a new age 78 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 2: care bed built by the federal government since twenty nineteen 79 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 2: in dah and so this has been a five nearly 80 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 2: six year gap between any increase in age care beds 81 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 2: in Darh and so we're really encouraging the Age Care 82 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 2: sorry the federal government to get on with the job 83 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 2: and build it as soon as possible because we want 84 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 2: to see age care patients in proper facilities. They deserve it. 85 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 2: Families want age care patients in facilities where they're being 86 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 2: cared for it properly. The hospital is not the appropriate 87 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: place for a agecare person. 88 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: No, I don't think you'll get many people disagree with that, 89 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: and I think that it needs to happen. It needed 90 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 1: to happen, you know, years ago. But I want to 91 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 1: move along because we know that. Over the weekend there 92 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: was a forum that was held. We talked about concerns 93 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: when it comes to maternity services, the Our Birth, Our 94 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: Voice forum, highlighting many families in the Northern Territory are 95 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: choosing to relocate interstate for maternity care. What immediate actions 96 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: is the department taking not only to stop people leaving, 97 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: but to provide that continuity of care that women are 98 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: really calling for. 99 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,599 Speaker 2: Look, the immediate action we're taking is that we've just 100 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: recently spent around about three hundred thousand on the really 101 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: some cosmetic changes in the maternity But look, we want 102 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 2: to ensure that we have a choice for families here 103 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: in Darwin and that the issue at the moment is 104 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 2: that we do know that healthscopes and administration. But what 105 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: we have done is we've had communication with the federal government. 106 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 2: We've also had communication with the receivers that the administrators 107 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: that are looking at the possibility of new buyers of 108 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: the private hospital in Darwin. So we've kept in close 109 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: contact with them and what we want to do is 110 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: be in a position that when a new. 111 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: Oh we seem to have lost the minister. Hoping that 112 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,239 Speaker 1: I have got the Minister on the line, Steve Edgington, 113 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: I do apologize for our tech issues. 114 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: Can you hear me, Katie? I wasn't sure there was 115 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 2: your end or it. 116 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: I know. Well, look, while I've still got your couple 117 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: of really quick ones, because I know you pressed for 118 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: time and I appreciate you staying on hold. We know 119 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: the Forum heard on the weekend that NTY Health funding 120 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: that request from the Commonwealth. You guys requested thirty five 121 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: million dollars when it comes to maternity services. It was 122 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,119 Speaker 1: revealed that it may not be that much. How much 123 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: is it going to be from your understanding? 124 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 2: Look, we've always asked for thirty five million, and I've 125 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: been corresponding with the Federal Minister, Mark Butler, and we've 126 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 2: had some good discussions about this. But the latest update 127 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 2: in regard to the funding is that the federal government 128 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 2: has suggested that an offer of around ten million dollars 129 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: would be more in line with the Tasmania and New 130 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 2: South Wales. So at the moment, I'm just waiting to 131 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: hear back from the Federal Minister around where we go, 132 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 2: whether it's the thirty five or the ten million, but 133 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 2: it's looking more likely to be a ten million dollar package. 134 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: Ten million dollars. I mean, are you disappointed? That's twenty 135 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 1: five million dollars less than what you'd requested. 136 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: Catie, Look, I'm extremely disappointed because we want to make 137 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 2: sure that our maternity ward meets the very highest standards 138 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 2: so that families have the very best birthing experience. But 139 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: look at the moment when it comes to funding right 140 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 2: across the Northern Territory. At the moment, what we do 141 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 2: know is that we're already two hundred million dollars short 142 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 2: per year with the National Health Agreement, but also we're 143 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 2: about one hundred and eighty six million short when it 144 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 2: comes to other funding. As I said before, it's costing 145 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 2: US forty million to look after age care patients, which 146 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 2: we like to do, but it's a federal responsibility. It's 147 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: costing US over fifty million dollars a year to provide 148 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 2: a care flight patient retrieval service. And we're also we're 149 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 2: putting ninety five million dollars into primary healthcare, which again 150 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 2: is a federal responsibility. So we're already four hundred million 151 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 2: dollars a year short. We're hoping to get the best possible. 152 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: Outcome, Minister, just really quickly before I let you go, 153 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: I mean with only. I'm hesitant to say only, because 154 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: ten million dollars is still a heck of a lot 155 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: of money. But with ten million dollars rather than thirty five, 156 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 1: what are you actually going to be able to deliver? 157 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: So with the ten million dollars, look, there'll be some 158 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 2: very minor capital works, and what we want to do 159 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 2: is improve the rooms where mothers are giving birth. We 160 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 2: want to ensure that there's a proper facilities where there's 161 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 2: not only a refurbishment of some of the rooms, but 162 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 2: an expansion and hopefully some additional rooms. But that's unlikely 163 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 2: with ten million dollars. It'll be mainly a reefer ibishment 164 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 2: of the maternity ward at rolled onn. 165 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: I know that's going to be so disappointing for people 166 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: to hear this morning, and I don't want to sound 167 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: ungrateful to the federal government, But ten million dollars and 168 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: when you look at what that's going to do comparatively 169 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 1: to what we need, seems like a bit of a 170 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:17,079 Speaker 1: kick in the guts. 171 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 2: Well, it is disappointing. So the maternity ward is Look, 172 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 2: it's a very aged facility, so any upgrade is very 173 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:31,599 Speaker 2: important because we're talking about years and years of no 174 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 2: upgrades being done in that particular space. So ten million dollars, Look, 175 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: we would love to get the thirty five million dollars 176 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 2: because we want to make sure that mothers have the 177 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 2: very best of birthing experience. But we are hopeful that 178 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 2: once a buyer for the private hospital is identified, we 179 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 2: can get to the table has some serious conversations about 180 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: ensuring that maternity services also come back to the private hospital. 181 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: All right, minister, I know your Presfatile really appreciate you 182 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: having a chat with us this morning, and apologies for 183 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 1: those tech issues.