CLP question timing for Royal Darwin Hospital changes during pandemic, flu case surge

The acting Health Minister has defended the decision to sack senior doctors from managerial roles, despite questions around its timing.

THE Opposition has questioned the need for an overhaul of the Territory’s largest hospital, amid rising Covid infections and a bad flu season.

It was revealed earlier this week that senior heads of departments within the Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) would be forced to reapply for their jobs in coming days in a push to bring in “new leadership”.

But CLP health spokesman Bill Yan has criticised the timing, saying it will further stress “an already stretched health system”.

“Natasha Fyles … has scheduled her leave to coincide with major changes that impact Territorians lives,” Mr Yan said.

“When it comes to major changes within the Territory’s health system, the buck stops with the Minister for Health.

CLP health spokesman Bill Yan has questioned the need and timing for changes at the RDH. Picture: Lee Robinson

“She should ensure she is available to the public and her own department staff in the midst of a major restructure that she was aware of.”

Mr Yan questioned whether the changes will lead to any improvement to health services.

“Why do these sackings need to happen now, in the midst of flu season, rising Covid cases, and an absent Health Minister?”

On Thursday morning, Acting Health Minister Nicole Manison defended the changes to help modernise the RDH.

“You do need to always have a look at your structures of your organisations and particularly when you have a look at the size of Royal Darwin Hospital and the Palmerston Hospital,” Ms Manison said.

“The senior management there found that it was appropriate to have a look at a restructure.

“This happens from time to time in most organisations. You can’t just keep doing the same thing all the time.”

Ms Manison stressed the doctors in those leadership positions would still have their clinical positions.

Acting Health Minister Nicole Manison defended the changes, saying they happened ‘from time to time’. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Health Minister away amid hospital overhaul

CHIEF Minister and Health Minister Natasha Fyles is on leave this week despite the Territory’s largest hospital undergoing its biggest overhaul in years.

Ms Fyles’ office acknowledged she was aware of significant changes within the Royal Darwin Hospital.

But it was believed the changes would not be made public until next week, upon her return.

The Australian Medical Association and the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation have both slammed the changes, which will result in senior doctors within the RDH forced to reapply for prominent positions such as the head of emergency medicine and director of surgery.

Both organisations say the move to bring in new leadership won’t solve fundamental issues within the department, which are the result of chronic underfunding spanning multiple Territory and federal governments.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has gone on leave while one of her portfolios undergoes a restructuring. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

A spokeswoman for Ms Fyles said on Wednesday the restructure was being led by the agency.

“The Health Minister is aware of the changes to Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Regional Hospital,” the spokeswoman said.

“These changes make sure Territorians are still receiving high quality health care, while also making sure we modernise our health care system which is sustainable.”

The spokeswoman also appeared to distance Ms Fyles from any responsibility for the changes, saying they were being undertaken by the Health department’s chief executive Frank Daly.

“The chief executive of Health is doing a restructure of the executive and senior leadership teams at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals,” she said.

ASMOF president Dr Thomas Fowles President and the AMA NT’s president Associate Professor Rob Parker at the Royal Darwin Hospital. Picture: Julianne Osborne

AMA NT president Dr Robert Parker said he “had to wonder why (Ms Fyles) was away” at such a time, given the changes had copped backlash.

“I think it would be far better done for the Minister to take leadership of this and for her to be around,” Dr Parker said.

“If the Health Minister had been around I would have raised these issues with her directly.”

Dr Parker, who is also the head of psychiatry at the RDH, said there had been no consultation around the changes.

Originally published as CLP question timing for Royal Darwin Hospital changes during pandemic, flu case surge