1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: Well, yesterday on the show I spoke to a lady 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: called Jeane Jaggs from the NT Parkinson's Support Group who'd 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: raised concerns that funding is soon going to run out 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: for a movement disordered specialist nurse. Now the Northern Territory 5 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 1: has won and she's been making a huge difference from 6 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: what Gene had told us on the show, not only 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,959 Speaker 1: to those with Parkinson's disease, but a range of other conditions, 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: working with patients all the way through the journey. Now, 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: my understanding is that this role has been federally funded 10 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 1: until March next year. It was hoped that the Northern 11 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: Territory government would continue to find a way to fund 12 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: it moving forward. Now we got in touch with the 13 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: Health Minister, Steve Edgington about the situation. He joins me 14 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: on the line right now. Good morning to your minister. 15 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 2: Good morning Cody, and good morning to the listeners. 16 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now, Steve, 17 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: is the Northern Territory government going to take a closer 18 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: look at this vital role, the specialist nurse and the 19 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: world in which it is. Indeed, she is that nurse 20 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: is helping those with not only Parkinson's, but other movement disorders. 21 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 2: Oh, we certainly are. And Katie, this was brought to 22 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:16,919 Speaker 2: my attention yesterday, So we're taking a very strong interest 23 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: in this and we've made a lot of progress already 24 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 2: just in the last twenty four hours. And you know, 25 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 2: what I can say is that primary healthcare funding in 26 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 2: the NT it is the responsibility of the Commonwealth government. 27 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 2: But what we have been doing is looking into the 28 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 2: program and what I can say upfront is that the 29 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: program will certainly be funded right through to twenty five 30 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: twenty six at this point. So that's the work that 31 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 2: we've been doing over the last twenty four hours. And 32 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 2: you know, I really thank Gene for bringing this to 33 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 2: everybody's attention because it's really shone the spotlight on what's 34 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 2: been happening in that space. And of course, the good 35 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: things that I found out is that the work going 36 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 2: on is absolutely exp We've got a specialist, nurse Yolanda Gomez, 37 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: who was named the Empty Nurse of the Year in 38 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four, actually administering the program. So look, it 39 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 2: is good news from my perspective, absolutely, but we have 40 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: had the opportunity to look at the program more closely 41 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 2: and I'm really pleased to see the work that's going 42 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 2: on at the moment. 43 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: Well Health Minister Steve Edgington, I think that all of 44 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: our listeners are going to be really pleased to hear 45 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: that as well, particularly the likes of Jane and her 46 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: husband and everybody else in the Northern Territory who has Parkinson's, 47 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: has a loved one who has Parkinson's or another movement disorders. 48 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: So just to repeat that, so you are going to 49 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 1: you have gone and had a look at this in 50 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: the last twenty four hours since hearing those concerns raised, 51 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: and you are going to make sure that that program's 52 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,519 Speaker 1: funded until twenty five twenty six, so that at least 53 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: gets some another year and then will you be looking 54 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: or having further discussions beyond. 55 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: That, well, we certainly will. You know, the program actually 56 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 2: started off as a pilot program funded back in twenty 57 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 2: twenty one through a funding agreement which originally went through 58 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 2: to twenty twenty three, and at this stage the current program, 59 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 2: as I said, is now being extended right through to 60 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: the twenty five twenty six financial year. But look, as 61 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 2: I've said, we'll be having close conversations with the public 62 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: Health Network and also the Commonwealth to ensure that not 63 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 2: only does the program go through to twenty five twenty six, 64 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 2: but of course, like any program, that'll continue to be 65 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: evaluated and the needs assessed. So look, all going well now, 66 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: I can't see any reason why it shouldn't be funded 67 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 2: into the future. 68 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: So in terms of that twenty twenty five twenty six funding, 69 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: so that essentially will at least get them another year, 70 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: won't it. 71 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 2: Certainly. Yeah, the final amount of that funding hasn't been 72 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 2: determined as yet, but what we have been advised of 73 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: is that the funding will extend through to twenty five 74 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 2: twenty six, and of course what we will do is 75 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 2: the NTE Health and in my role as the Minister, 76 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: will continue to monitor that program, which is being delivered 77 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 2: through the public Health Network, to ensure that the appropriate 78 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 2: funding is there. 79 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: And look, you know it's I just think it's so 80 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: important and I feel I said this on a yesterday, 81 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: I feel like health was one of the sleeper issues 82 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: in the lead into the election. You know, you don't 83 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: know where we're falling short within the health system until 84 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: you're going through the health system and until you actually 85 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 1: you know, need a specialist nurse or someone in your 86 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: families is suffering through a health issue and unable to 87 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: get in for scans and things like that. But we've 88 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 1: heard so many stories over the last couple of years. 89 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 1: It does seem to me, Minister like you are going 90 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: to have a bloody big job on your hands as 91 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: the Minister for Health. 92 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 2: Oh certainly so. And look coming into the role, it's 93 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 2: certainly been an eye opener for me just to look 94 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 2: at the whole structure of the health around the Northern 95 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 2: Territory and look at all the different players in the system. 96 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 2: Because as I've said, this particular program is administered through 97 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 2: the Public Health Network, which is a Commonwealth funded, not 98 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 2: for profit independent organization. So there's all of these different 99 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 2: parts of the health system that I'm coming to grips 100 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 2: with at the moment, and these are the type of 101 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 2: programs that will continue to monitor through my portfolio as 102 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 2: a Health Minister. But I'm finding out more and more 103 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: every day, and it's a fantastic portfolio to be part of. 104 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 2: And what I am finding out is that we've got 105 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 2: so many professionals out there that are doing some magnificent 106 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 2: work and just to find out about this program and 107 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 2: here that we've got the NT Nurse of the Year 108 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: from twenty twenty four involved in this program. 109 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: It's just incredible, well, and it seems utterly shocking and 110 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: I think almost embarrassing the fact that we were potentially 111 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: going to be in a situation where we lose it 112 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: to Interstate because we're not able to continue something that's 113 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: been such a valued, such a valued asset and service. 114 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 2: Oh exactly. And you know, some of the things that 115 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: I've also found out, Cody, is that just in the 116 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 2: life of this program, the program's been delivered to two 117 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: hundred and seventy two clients right across the Northern Territory 118 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:31,679 Speaker 2: and including remote community. So the justification and the work 119 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 2: being done in this particular program certainly speaks for itself. 120 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I agree, Steve Edgington, the Minister for Health. 121 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time on this this morning, and 122 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: I know, well I think that they will absolutely appreciate 123 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: the fact that the Specialist Nurse is able to continue 124 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: on for at least another financial year and those discussions 125 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: will continue to be had. Thank you so much for 126 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 1: having a chat with us this morning, and thank you 127 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 1: for hearing the voices of those family and people affected 128 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: by Parkinson's and other movement disorders. 129 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks Katie, and it really has been a good 130 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 2: opportunity to look deeper into this program. But just as 131 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 2: a reminder to the organization, you know, the Parkinson's NTE 132 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: support group coordinator Gene. Just for Jane's information, I am 133 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 2: writing to mister Raja Chan today to update him on 134 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: what we found out with this program, so they can 135 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 2: expect a letter from me very shortly. 136 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: Good stuff, minister, thank you, thanks so much for having 137 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: a chat with us this morning. 138 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, and good morning to all the listeners. 139 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:36,679 Speaker 1: Thank you.