70 new units for Alice Springs Hospital staff officially open

The Chief Minister says staffing levels at Alice Springs Hospital have increased since a ‘dangerous’ shortage earlier this year, as new staff accommodation opens. See the first images here.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles says hospital staffing levels in Alice Springs have stabilised since concerns about a “dangerous” shortage were raised earlier this year.

In February, Australia Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT Branch secretary Cath Hatcher said staffing levels at the town’s hospital were down about 30 per cent on the usual capacity.

But at the opening of the new Alice Springs Hospital staff accommodation block on Thursday, Ms Fyles said staffing levels had increased since that time, with the new facility hoped to bring in more healthcare workers from interstate and overseas.

“We certainly found during this Covid-19 period it was difficult to attract staff but we’re hoping this project and innovative ideas such as this will help us attract staff,” she said.

The inside of one of the new units inside the Alice Springs Hospital accommodation block. Picture: Supplied

“This is accommodation for up to six months so we’re hoping it will help attract people to the region and help us retain our staff longer term.”

The new facility features 70 units including 40 one-bedroom units, 20 two-bedrooms units and 10 three-bedroom units.

The secure complex, located between Todd St and South Tce, includes a swimming pool, gymnasium, barbecue and outdoor eating areas, a rooftop common area, undercover carparking and a central waste disposal area.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Whittaker Street Developments owner Michael Sitzler check out some of the amenities in the new accommodation complex. Picture: Supplied

Rachel, a midwife at the Alice Springs Hospital who arrived in the region a month ago, said she hoped the accommodation would attract more new staff to the region.

“I’m excited, I literally finished my shift yesterday and picked up the keys,” she said.

“It’s starting to feel like home.”

Coming from New Zealand, where a healthcare worker shortage is also impacting service availability, she said staffing levels were better in Alice Springs.

The exterior of the new Alice Springs Hospital accommodation block between Todd St and South Tce. Picture: Supplied

“As a new person I can only comment on maternity and it seems better staffed than where I come from in New Zealand,” she said.

The project, which was announced in 2019 with a $25m private investment, was designed and constructed by Whittaker Street Developments, supporting more than 150 direct jobs and 465 indirect jobs in the region.

Ms Fyles said the construction of the complex “had all of the positive flow on benefits we expect from a major project, including a strong pipeline of jobs.”

“This project has leveraged Alice Springs as a professional destination for health workers and it will help retain new and existing staff,” she said.