Danila Dilba Health Service to turn away patients due to lack of resources

The Northern Territory’s largest Aboriginal health service will cease taking new patients immediately, placing huge pressure on Darwin’s already overburdened public health system.

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THE Northern Territory’s largest Aboriginal health service will cease taking new patients immediately, placing huge pressure on Darwin’s already overburdened public health system.

Danila Dilba Health Service says it has been forced to take the drastic action after the Federal Government refused repeated requests to increase its resources.

Danila Dilba operates seven clinics and associated medical services across the Greater Darwin region, treating thousands of Indigenous Australians including many with severe chronic illness.

New patients will now be directed to attend the Royal Darwin or Palmerston hospitals, or a bulk-billing GP clinic.

Danila Dilba CEO Olga Havnen

And from July 1, the service will only treat patients if they or their partner have a permanent residential address in the Greater Darwin region.

Aboriginal patients from outside Darwin will also be unable to access the free medicines offered at Danila Dilba’s pharmacy service.

The NT News has obtained a letter sent by Danila Dilba chief executive Olga Havnen to Health Minister Greg Hunt, informing him of the suspension of services.

“With immediate effect, Danila Dilba Health Service has now closed our books to new clients for primary health care and will implement a transition plan and referrals for visitors and transient clients to other providers including Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Hospital Emergency Departments and bulk billing clinics,” she writes.

Ms Havnen says Danila Dilba is only funded to treat Aboriginal people who live in the Greater Darwin region.

But many of its clients are people who travel to Darwin from remote Indigenous communities.

There has been huge influx of Aboriginal people moving into urban centres in the Northern Territory during the coronavirus pandemic.

But from July 1, Danila Dilba will only treat a patient if they or their partner have a permanent residential address in the Greater Darwin region.

“This decision will affect approximately 3,000 visitors from remote communities who, from July 1, 2021 will no longer be able to access primary health care service at Danila Dilba,” she writes.

“This action is taken with extreme reluctance and DDHS Board and staff are very concerned about the potential impact on the health and wellbeing of the Aboriginal community and visitors from remote communities to Darwin.”

Ms Havnen warned Danila Dilba may be forced to introduce further restrictions “if demand for our services remains unsustainable”.

“It is very disappointing to be forced to take this action, particularly at a time when the Northern Territory remains vulnerable to an outbreak of COVID which would devastate Aboriginal communities in our region,” Ms Havnen writes.

“Regrettably, as reflected in the Funding Model, DDHS is funded only for the provision of health care to residents of the Greater Darwin region.

“Until our situation is reviewed, and additional resources provided in a way that reflects the actual service need among both the resident and transient populations of Greater Darwin, DDHS will only be able to service the clients who are permanent residents and current clients.”

Mr Hunt’s office has been contacted for comment.