1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: If you want to know what's happening on the local 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: political landscape, Kaye Wolf has it covered on three sixty. 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 2: Every One is Listening Mixed one oh four point nine. 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Royal dah And Hospital apparently had a code yellow again 5 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 1: last week. Or the statement which has been sent through 6 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: to us from Royal dah And Hospital is that or 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: the Department of Health is that Royal dah And Hospital 8 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: experienced a peak in bed demand last week and as 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: such had to enact capacity management plans. They've said that 10 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: patient safety is a priority and the dedicated staff at 11 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: RDH work hard to ensure Territorians continue to receive the 12 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: best patient centered camp possible in these periods of high demand. 13 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: They are urging people who have non emergency health needs 14 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: to see their GP as soon as they become sick 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 1: to try to avoid becoming acutely unwell. This also helps 16 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: them to care for those who most need a hospital 17 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: beat now joining us on the line to talk further 18 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: about this from the Australian Medical Association. The president here 19 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory, Doctor Robert Parker. 20 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: Good morning, Doctor. 21 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 3: Parker, morning, Katie. 22 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 2: Can you talk us through last week? 23 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: We understand that obviously this was what the department is 24 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: calling a peak in demand? 25 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 2: Is that what it is? 26 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 3: Well, basically, yeah, the hospital had too many patients and 27 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 3: not enough beads. Basically yeah. So there's various ways of 28 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 3: describing it, such as kate yellow or peak in demand. 29 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so doctor Parker, what exactly does it mean? 30 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 1: I guess the obvious thing is there's not enough beds. 31 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: But does it just mean there's not enough beds in 32 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: emergency or are we talking about there being a situation 33 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: where people aren't sort of able to be moved from 34 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 1: the emergency ward into other wards. 35 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 3: Well, that's right, I mean basically beds are full and 36 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 3: the emergency department is I suppose that a fault area 37 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 3: of care until you can actually find bits in other areas. 38 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: How often is this type of thing happening? 39 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 3: Well, as the regular media and yourself, it's been a 40 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 3: reasonably regular occurrence for the last couple of years, and 41 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 3: in fact, my letter to Minister Hunt a couple of 42 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 3: years ago, which caused all the kafuffle where we accused 43 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 3: the Indie government's being the worst government in Australia has 44 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 3: subsequently been repaired together relates to again the pressure on 45 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 3: the hospital that really the territory's got major health issues 46 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 3: and has pointed out a letter to Minister n at 47 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 3: the time, we've got double the number of avoidable admissions 48 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 3: compared to the rest of Australia, you know, and so 49 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,519 Speaker 3: avoidable admissions are exactly the issues that the Health abovement 50 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 3: are referring to, where people should be getting suff fixed 51 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 3: and primary care rather than escalating to a medical condition 52 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 3: that requires hospital for them. 53 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: Doctor Parker. 54 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 1: We know that this obviously has a massive strain on 55 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: the staff at the hospital, and doctors and nurses do 56 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 1: a phenomenal job, but just how difficult is it when 57 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: you've got a situation where you know you've got people 58 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,399 Speaker 1: double bunked in the emergency room for example. 59 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 3: It is very difficult. But again I want to as 60 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 3: you just have, I'd want to pay tribute to the 61 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 3: not just the doctors and mercers, but the ots, the physios, 62 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: the cleaners, the cooks. You know, the whole hospital is 63 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 3: working over time to do everything. And I mean we're 64 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 3: dealing with some heroes here right through the health system 65 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 3: who really work above their above their capacity to really 66 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:19,639 Speaker 3: make the system work. 67 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 1: Dr Parker, Let's talk about some of those other wards. 68 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: I mean, what's I guess some of us and some 69 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 1: listening this morning will be thinking, why have we still 70 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: got a situation where we have a code yellow last 71 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: week at Royal Darwin Hospital when we've got a second 72 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: hospital now out at Palmerston. 73 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 3: Well, that's the old story, Katie. Is we all know 74 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 3: about whether parmesan is or not is or is not 75 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 3: efficient and the whole process of whether it'soul have been 76 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 3: bled in the first place. Yeah, So, I mean, I 77 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 3: think I'll let the viewers make up their own mind 78 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 3: that the workers make up their own minds. 79 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: About that, Doctor Parker, Are there any areas in particular 80 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: at the moment where you know where it. 81 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: Is quite difficult? 82 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: I know that mental health is an area which you're 83 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: very passionate about, But are there you know, are there 84 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: areas at the moment where where we're seeing a real, 85 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: I guess, a real difficulty in terms of beds and 86 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: being able to provide the services that people require. 87 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 3: Well, again, I suppose the one of the continuing concerns 88 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 3: for us is the ongoing six surgical vacancies. They're unable 89 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 3: to attract surgeons to work in a regular way. They 90 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 3: can obviously get a locans to cover stuff. But you know, 91 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 3: they've got six vacancies in the surgical area that can 92 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 3: they can't fill at the moment, and that would be 93 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 3: affecting operation lists and potentially flow through a patients. So 94 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 3: obviously the AMA is very concerned about that. I think 95 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 3: the Health Department of concerns and that particularly. I know 96 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 3: it sounds that it's sad, but with the upcoming EBA 97 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 3: later in the year, that's obviously a very significant issue 98 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 3: to be addressed because if we can't unfortunately with the 99 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 3: medical stuff, you often got to pay people to come, 100 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 3: and we haven't got the wages to attract people, they 101 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 3: won't come, which does affect the health system like that. 102 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, And then when you're talking about those six 103 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: vacancies and not being able to have people here on 104 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: a more regular basis surgeons, Yeah, I would imagine that 105 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: it means that the wait times and that type of 106 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 1: thing for Territorians who actually need to see a surgeon 107 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: are increased. 108 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 3: That's exactly right, Katie Yep, Well, doctor. 109 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: Parker, I know this is you know, it's not a 110 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: new issue, but it is one that impacts absolutely everybody, 111 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 1: and you know, certainly you want to make sure we 112 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: want to make sure we've got everything we need here 113 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: in the territory when it comes to health. 114 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 2: You know, we're too from here. I know that. 115 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: You know, like you said, you wrote to the to 116 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: the federal health minister a couple of years back, and it. 117 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 2: Did cause a bit of a stir. But you know, 118 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 2: how do. 119 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: We sort of try to mend this or try to 120 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: make sure that we've got the staff that we need 121 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: and got the facilities that. 122 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 3: We need, O Katie, I mean, I've Minister Hunt, to 123 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 3: his credit, we recently wrote to mister about the issue 124 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 3: with mental health and the Stunt to his credit, has 125 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 3: been working with Minister Files in terms of development of services. 126 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 3: So we're reasonably happy with the way that's progressed. All obviously, 127 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 3: you know we could do with more service in that area. 128 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,799 Speaker 3: I mean, I did write the Minister Hunt and Treasure 129 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 3: of fraud and there before the last year, before the 130 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 3: federal state health funding agreements were done exactly to try 131 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 3: and get more money for the territory. Minister Files has 132 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 3: told me she's reasonably happy with that funding agreement as is, 133 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 3: but obviously the issue is again related you just can't 134 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 3: establish a bed in a hospital. He can put a 135 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 3: bed in an award, but obviously the issue is ongoing 136 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 3: staffing and that's much more expensive in our current way 137 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 3: than just putting a bed an award. And those staffing 138 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 3: ratios and being able to employ staff to service the beds. 139 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 3: That a significant health increase, and unfortunately there are peaks 140 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 3: and troughs, so that the health service has a responsibility 141 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 3: of the patients, they've also got a responsibility of the 142 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 3: taxpayer to make sure the health work sufficiently and not 143 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 3: spending too much money. So it's always find balance between 144 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 3: having enough beds to cover but also spending money in 145 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 3: a responsible way. 146 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: I know, when we caught up with the nursing and 147 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: mid we're for re union kath Hatcher last week she 148 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: had raised some concerns about some of those ratios, but 149 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: also some of the double shifts and things that nurses 150 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: are working at the moment. How is it for our 151 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: doctors and surgeons, Well, I. 152 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 3: Say, I think the surgeons are pretty angry at the 153 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 3: moment with the inability to get those six positions filled. 154 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 3: So I know we're dealing with some surgeons are not happy. 155 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 3: I don't know about the rest of the medical staff. 156 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 3: I gather I'm not hearing a lot of gossip from 157 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 3: the other staff, but I gather people are, you know, 158 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 3: are stressed, but again being the heroes that they are, 159 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 3: they're actually covering the way they need to do to 160 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: make you territory. 161 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 2: And say, yeah, that's the thing that I was, you know, 162 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 2: I was. 163 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 1: I don't know whether it's so pleased or unsurprised to 164 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: hear when we spoke to Cath Hatcher, is that you're 165 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: exactly right. People are doing those double shifts and that 166 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: is the thing about everybody that works at the hospital. 167 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: They do a bloody marvelous job and often under difficult circumstances. 168 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 3: Yep, agree, totally, Katie. 169 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: Good on your doctor Parker. Always good to talk to 170 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: you and I always appreciate your time. I know you're 171 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: a very busy person. 172 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 3: My pleasure. 173 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: Thank you. 174 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: That's doctor Robert Parker there, who is of course the 175 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: president of the AMA, the Australian Medical Association here in 176 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory.