1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: It's been an incredible logistical effort for our emergency services 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: with all hands on deck managing the response to that 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,639 Speaker 1: widespread flooding across the Big Rivers region and indeed Catherine 4 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: now alongside the Northern Territory Police and the Northern Territory 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: Emergency Services, Saint John Paramedics have also been involved and 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: the new CEO, Abigail Truan, joins me in the studio. 7 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Abby, Hi Katie, and hello to 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 2: your listeners. 9 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. First off, congratulations 10 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: on the appointment to the role. 11 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 3: Oh, thank you very much. It's a wonderful opportunity. 12 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: It'll be a it'll no doubt be a big job, 13 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: and I know that you've got a lot of experience 14 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: and you'd be ready to hit the ground running, no 15 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: doubt about that, and already have by the look of things. 16 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 3: I have been known to be called a whirlwind from 17 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 3: a few of my friends and colleagues, but no, look 18 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 3: at it is a fantastic organization and we are we 19 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 3: should all be really proud as Territorians for the paramedics 20 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 3: that we have on the road up here. 21 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: Well, and you know, it has been quite the whirlwind 22 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: over the weekend. We know that the situation in Catherine 23 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: and the Big Rivers region has been quite a logistical 24 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: will juggle, I guess for all of our emergency services 25 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: talk us through what Saint John have sort of been 26 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: involved in over the last couple of days. 27 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 3: So, like all good emergency services, we've got good, strong 28 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 3: disaster plans and when they're enacted, we stand up and 29 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 3: we do it professionally. So we have an incident management team. 30 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 3: And then the ambulance station itself in Catherine was turned 31 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 3: into the emergency department for Catherine, which was part of 32 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 3: those disaster plans and part of why the building was 33 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 3: made the way it is. 34 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 2: We brought on our. 35 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 3: Resources to support that, so more paramedics coming into the 36 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 3: station as well as sending others down the track to 37 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 3: give a hand. So that's sort of in the early 38 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 3: phase of the disaster, and then we constantly monitor to 39 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 3: see what else might be needed. 40 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: So you've set up the St. John down there has 41 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: been set up basically is as like an emergency room 42 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: to be able to care for people. Have you had 43 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: like how many patients have you had in there over 44 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: the weekend or what's sort of been the juggle. So 45 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 1: we're working really closely with the health staff, so remembering 46 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: that they're actually fantastic at treating their patients in Catherine and. 47 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 2: We need to work together to solve this challenge. 48 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 3: So it stood up and I believe as of Monday 49 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 3: evening with there is over one hundred people that had 50 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 3: come through that emergency department, plus of course the evacuations 51 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 3: out of that building back to Darwin. So ambulance crews, 52 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 3: paramedics are going out retrieving people across the river, working 53 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 3: with n test to do that, a couple of fallall 54 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 3: drives to make sure they get back safely, and then 55 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 3: evacuating them out through to the airport as well, and 56 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 3: working in the rooms with the doctors and the nurses. 57 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 1: Wow, is this the first time that that's ever had 58 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: to happen in Catherine? 59 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 3: It sure is, And hey, what a fantastic facility. Wouldn't 60 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 3: it be great if we could do that across the territory? 61 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Like I think that contingency just means that when 62 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: something like this does happen, that you've got a plan 63 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: in place that you're ready to mobile, you're able to 64 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: keep all of those patients safe. Which I know is 65 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 1: front of mind for anyone working, you know, to look 66 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: after people. 67 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm a big fan of good disaster plans. When 68 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 3: it's not done well, it makes life a hell of 69 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 3: a lot harder for everyone else. 70 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: So I think this is a great example. 71 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 3: But you know, the staff have to be willing to 72 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 3: leave their own homes and come in and provide that support, 73 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 3: and I'm really proud of how they've performed. Eight of 74 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 3: our staff have been affected by the floods, you know, 75 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:30,839 Speaker 3: as an example, and they've left their homes to come 76 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 3: help territory and. 77 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: So and so. In terms of then the evacuations, do 78 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: you know how many people had to be evacuated out 79 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: of Catherine to I'm assuming to Darwin, So. 80 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 3: I don't have the exact numbers here, And obviously it's 81 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 3: limited by how many planes we have available and moving 82 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 3: people and making sure it's really staged and thought about carefully. 83 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 3: Who needs to go to Darwin now and who can 84 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 3: wait till tomorrow. So that's been an ongoing process over 85 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 3: the weekend and all the teams, as I said, have 86 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 3: been working together to get that done. 87 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: Even the fact that you know, as those floodwaters rose, 88 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: you placed a paramedic and an ambulance north of the 89 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: Catherine River Bridge just in case. 90 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's right, because if it gets cut off, who's 91 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 3: going to help? Right, So he was willing to be 92 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,559 Speaker 3: over there with the ambulance ready to respond if needed. 93 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 3: It's no longer needed, and I understand he's come back 94 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 3: to the center now to provide assistance. But yeah, really 95 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 3: important you think about the strategy of where do you 96 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 3: put people to make sure you get help where it 97 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 3: might be needed. 98 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: Now, in terms of there was at least one patient 99 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: that had to be retrieved from the north side. 100 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 2: Is that correct, That's what I understand. 101 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 3: So yes, so intest I believe helped our teams go 102 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 3: across in a vessel, bring them back and bring them 103 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 3: back for obviously assistance at the at the health center. 104 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 3: And now that that water is receding, is there more 105 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 3: are you expecting? 106 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: You know, is St. John expecting that more people are 107 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: going to sort of need some assistance? 108 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 3: So we know, Katie, when a flood happens, no matter 109 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 3: where in the world it is, there's like a series 110 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 3: of things you should doat expect. So there's some of 111 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,559 Speaker 3: the evacuation injuries that happen at the beginning, which we've seen. 112 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 3: Then mums have babies that does not stop in disasters, 113 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 3: and then we also have as we clean up, we 114 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 3: go into the next round of injuries that will happen 115 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 3: as people try and clean up their homes. And of 116 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 3: course the risk of direal diseases if you don't boil 117 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 3: your water and keep yourself healthy. Yeah, and that's I 118 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 3: guess the concern is as time goes on as well 119 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 3: as people are trying to do that clean up and 120 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 3: get everything organized. 121 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 2: Abby. 122 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: I understand, though, there was some good news a baby 123 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: born in Catherine, the first flood baby. 124 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 2: I believe. 125 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 3: Well, one of the mums I called through last night 126 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 3: in labor and two of our teams went out to 127 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 3: bring her back and they just made it, is what 128 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 3: I understand, just made it to the ambulance station and 129 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 3: a healthy baby was born with the help of the 130 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,679 Speaker 3: health staff and then she was evacuated through to Darwin. 131 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 3: So our first flood baby, Katie. 132 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: Oh, how lovely. Well, I'm glad that she's okay. 133 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 2: I'm glad. 134 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,799 Speaker 1: I'm assuming mum's okay. Everybody's safe and happy. 135 00:05:58,880 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 2: That's what I've been told. 136 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: Well, that is really good news now. I mean, there's 137 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: always so much going on when it comes to a 138 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: flood or a disaster situation, and if people are thinking, oh, 139 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: it sounds like there might be a bit of an 140 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: in joke there. As Abby and I were talking. For 141 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: those who don't know, Abigail true and used to be 142 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: with the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Center quite 143 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: some time ago. So this really, I mean, this is 144 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 1: something that you've been doing professionally for a long long time, 145 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: isn't it. I think it's close to twenty years now, Katie, Yeah, right, yeah, 146 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: a long time doing disaster's disaster response. Yep. 147 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 3: Here at your Jesse it is. But you know, I 148 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 3: don't need to do a lot now. I've got a 149 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 3: lot of fantastic team and staff that are stepping up 150 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 3: and their superbot what they do. 151 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,359 Speaker 1: They are so wonderful at what they do, and I 152 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: do not that. On the weekend, you actually penned a 153 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: piece for the Northern Territory News, and I'm glad that 154 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: you did because something that we've seen are really increase 155 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: in I think, and something that I talk quite often 156 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: about with Saint John is the fact that we've seen 157 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: experiences of late, particularly in Alice Springs, our paramedics really 158 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: fearing for their life and their safety based on terrible 159 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: behavior that they're experiencing when they go out to a job. 160 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 3: So, Katie, I am a paramedic, that's my background, and 161 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 3: so I get it. When you get up to go 162 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 3: to your shift. I can't describe the feeling in your stomach, 163 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 3: but you start to recognize you're going on to high 164 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 3: alert as you shut your front door and then you 165 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 3: head to your station and you get your call outs. Now, 166 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 3: it's good to be alert, it's good to have situational awareness, 167 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 3: but you need to remember that our paramedics will see 168 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 3: things in one day you will never see in your lifetime, 169 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 3: and I can't describe the horror of. 170 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 2: What that can look like. 171 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 3: But it is a really difficult, demanding job. On top 172 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 3: of that, people being violent towards them, abusing them. I mean, really, 173 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 3: you're there to assist, you're there to help, and someone 174 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 3: is going to hurt you while you do that. The 175 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 3: toll that can take on you professionally, personally, every single day. 176 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 3: It was only yesterday I spoke to some of my 177 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 3: paramedic crews and I can tell you a young officer 178 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 3: described that fear on a daily basis so much so 179 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 3: that they will likely look at a different career path 180 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 3: for themselves. 181 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 2: And this is the reality. 182 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 3: So most paramedics don't stay in a job longer than 183 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 3: about seven years because of the just toll on them 184 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 3: physically and emotionally. And then you add violence to that, 185 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 3: and you wonder why we can't maintain our paramedic numbers 186 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 3: to where they need to be, because why would you 187 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 3: why would you do this? 188 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 1: It is shocking, you know, it would be absolutely shocking. 189 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: And I can't imagine sort of the fire or flight 190 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: mode that you go into every single day depending on 191 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: what you're going out to, what job you're going out to. 192 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: But to then be going out to a traumatic situation 193 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: and be worried that somebody's going to either you know, 194 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: verbally abuse you or worse still physically abuse you while 195 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: you're trying to do that job. It's just totally unacceptable. 196 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: There's no other way to put it. 197 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 3: I couldn't agree with you more. But we're also not 198 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 3: the police. We don't come with anything to defend ourselves 199 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 3: other than our words. Yeah, so you know you're not 200 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 3: only having to assist a patient, But you're also having 201 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 3: to try and de escalate a situation around you. And 202 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 3: it's understandable people are emotional when things happen, but when 203 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 3: it becomes violent or abusive, it's not okay. And I 204 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,199 Speaker 3: want my crews to pull out of those situations. I 205 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 3: don't want them at risk. 206 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: I know that you also quoted that Saint John has 207 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 1: experienced a thirty percent increase in incidents and a seventy 208 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: percent rise in triple zero calls. 209 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 3: How are you managing that demand? Would be one of 210 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 3: our most significant challenges in the territory. So if you 211 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 3: call triple zero, you expect someone to pick it up, 212 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 3: and you expect them to pick it up in ten seconds. 213 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 3: That's the national expectation. I can tell you a few 214 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 3: weekends ago, we had twenty eight percent of our calls 215 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 3: we couldn't answer because the volume was so high. When 216 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 3: you have thirty percent increase in incidents, your paramedics are 217 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 3: going to that means they don't get any form of meal, 218 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 3: rest recovery. They're on that high alert state I've described 219 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 3: before for hours and hours on end, and you can't 220 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 3: get to all the cases you want to. So if 221 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 3: you think about a couple of weekends ago, people could 222 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 3: be waiting fifteen hours for an ambulance with a priority 223 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 3: to case that's something like a broken. 224 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 2: Leg or a force. 225 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a long time. So you know, I would 226 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 3: say to territorians, what service do you want? How do 227 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 3: you want us to respond? These are the challenges we 228 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 3: have to face as a health capability No different to 229 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 3: the hospitals and others. But when you call Triple O, 230 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 3: you expect a response. 231 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: Oh absolutely, And like I sort of think of various 232 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 1: different scenarios. But you even think, if you know there's 233 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: a kid that's broken their leg on the footy field 234 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,079 Speaker 1: or something, what happens and if you can't get somebody 235 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: out for an extended period of time and the expectation 236 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: you're spot on is it somebody does go out and help. 237 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 2: How do we fix this? 238 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: Is it a funding issue? 239 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 2: What is that? 240 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 3: So there's a few things we need to think about. 241 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 3: Is why you're calling an ambulance. Okay, so if you're 242 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 3: calling for a splinter in your finger or something more simplistic, 243 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 3: please see your GP. 244 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 2: Don't call us. 245 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 3: We're an emergency service. That's the first thing happening. It 246 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 3: happens it happens. The second thing is we've put in 247 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 3: strategies to try and manage that demand, so you'll get 248 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 3: a callback. If we're delayed, we'll tell you we're delayed. 249 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 3: We'll tell you how long we might be. We'll give 250 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 3: you advice. If you can move, then we'll tell you 251 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 3: to move. If you can't, then you have to wait. 252 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 3: We're looking at different ways to structure our ambulance service 253 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 3: so we can respond. But you can only do so 254 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 3: much with what you have. So meet the demand is 255 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 3: the challenge for us and making sure we can resource 256 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 3: it to meet the demand. 257 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 2: It's not a new problem, Katie. 258 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: No, and so taking that into account yet. Now for 259 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: you stepping in as the new CEO, I mean three 260 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: weeks in the job, what like, what work do you 261 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: really want to sort of get stuck into early on 262 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: to try and have an impact. 263 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 3: Well, the first thing I want to do is support 264 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,719 Speaker 3: our staff, so let them know that I see them, 265 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 3: i understand the job, and I've got their back. 266 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 2: First thing. The second thing is. 267 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 3: Looking at how we can address and meet the demand 268 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 3: and make sure people understand what that looks like and 269 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 3: what might be needed to achieve that. And then the 270 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 3: third thing is around strengthening our system, which is good practice, 271 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 3: you know, making sure that patients stay safe when they're 272 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 3: with us, our crews stay safe when they're with their patients, 273 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,679 Speaker 3: and that we can do our job as territory territories expect. 274 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: I know there've been some chatter from the union, you know, 275 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: saying that that you know, NT Health should be taking 276 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:53,079 Speaker 1: over Saint John rather than it being or taking over 277 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: the ambulance services, I guess, rather than it being managed 278 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: by Saint John. 279 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 3: I mean, is that is that the answer? So I 280 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 3: think that's been a narrative for a very long time, Katie. 281 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: It's not new. It was around when I was on 282 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 2: the road as well. 283 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 3: What I would say is Saint John does an extraordinary 284 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:10,599 Speaker 3: job for Territorians. We've been doing this since the seventies, 285 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 3: probably a bit earlier unfofficially, Yeah, and we've demonstrated we're 286 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 3: here for territorians. We've got superbly trained paramedics, they do degrees, 287 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 3: they do postgraduates, they're resourcing. Is the challenge moving forward 288 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 3: and making sure that we can support territorians in the 289 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 3: way they expect well. 290 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 1: Abigail Truan, the CEO of Saint John, it's great to 291 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: have you in the studio. Really appreciate it. No doubt 292 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: we'll catch up with you again soon. 293 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 3: Oh Katie, it was an absolute pleasure. Thanks, thank you, 294 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 3: thanks so much.