‘This is becoming very consistent. It’s happening more and more’
A PARAMEDIC says the Top End’s medical services are stretched to the wire after a photo this week revealed a plethora of emergency vehicles waiting to hand over patients to Royal Darwin Hospital
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A PARAMEDIC says the Top End’s medical services are stretched to the wire after a photo this week revealed eight emergency vehicles waiting to hand over patients to Royal Darwin Hospital.
The paramedic, who did not want to be named, said the photo taken on Monday afternoon included multiple types of ambulance crews and a CareFlight vehicle.
They said unless there was a major accident, the number of vehicles at the emergency department was ludicrous. No major incidents were reported on Monday.
MORE TOP NEWS
New data shows how long Territorians are likely to live based on their suburb
School fight horror: Year 8 boy knocked out by older student
NT’s economy set for ‘steady recovery’ Moody’s analysis shows but budget repair ‘unachievable’
They added paramedics were more frequently attending to alcohol-fuelled jobs. “This is becoming very consistent. It’s happening more and more,” they said.
“Everyone’s sick of being flogged … Things have to be sorted at ground level around alcohol- fuelled, anti-social behaviour and dysfunction, and we need more resources.”
An NT Health spokeswoman said numbers had “slightly increased” in patients being brought to the emergency department by ambulance. “Royal Darwin Hospital did experience a peak in bed demand earlier this week,” she said.
HOT NEW DEAL: Read everything for 28 days for just $1
“It is our normal procedure to review and analyse data trends. Analysis is currently underway to understand why there was a surge in patient acute bed demand.”
St John NT ambulance services director Andrew Thomas said while the organisation had an increased workload in December and January, transport of patients to emergency departments in Darwin and Palmerston combined was stable at 1600 per month combined.
raphaella.saroukos@news.com.au
Originally published as ‘This is becoming very consistent. It’s happening more and more’
A watchful eye: How Border Force is combating drug cartels in Northern Australia
As drug cartels become craftier, the challenge to protect the nation becomes more difficult. See how Border Force officers operate in the Top End at sea and on land.
East Arnhem CEO holds grave fears new Groote council will be a puppet
The CEO of East Arnhem Regional Council, which will hand over the Groote Archipelago to a newly created council later this year, fears government underfunding will lead the new body into the arms of a controversial land council.