Annual NT Health report documents two sentinel events, growing wait times

The Territory’s hospitals recorded the first ‘wholly preventable’ patient deaths or serious injuries in at least two years, as surgery wait times continue to blow out to concerning levels.

THE scale of the Northern Territory’s health crisis has been laid bare in a damning annual report, with NT Health recording the first preventable deaths or serious injuries in at least two years.

There were two “sentinel events” in the Top End in 2020-21, which the federal government describes as being “wholly preventable” deaths or serious harm events.

If not fatal, sentinel events result in ongoing health problems.

NT Health’s 2020-21 Annual Report found the two incidents were the result of “medication error resulting in serious harm or death”.

Top End Hospitals key performance indicators

Benchmark Key Performance Indicators 2020/21	Target	Actual
People seen, treated and departed through the Emergency department within 4 hours	78%	62%
Hospital acquired complications	<1055	1149
Sentinel events	0	2
SAB infections (per 10,000 occupied bed days)	<1.00	0.71

There were none in the 2019-20 and 2018-19 financial years, according to NT Health data.

The document also reported Top End Health failed against key benchmarks, including emergency clearance rates and elective surgery wait times.

Only 62 per cent of emergency department admissions departed within four hours, failing NT Health’s target of 78 per cent. Only 68 per cent of patients who were required to have surgery within 30 days were admitted on time, against NT Health’s desired benchmark of 100 per cent.

The Royal Darwin Hospital has experienced four Code Yellows in 12 months. Picture: Che Chorley

Performance was slightly better for the Central Australia Health Service.

Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation NT president Thomas Fowles said sentinel events were a sign of a health system that was failing to cope with patient numbers.

“Sentinel events can be a symptom of a system under stress, and when things are working properly they should never ever happen,” he said.

Top End Hospitals surgical wait times performance 20/21

Key Performance Indicators Elective Surgery timely admissions	2020-21 Target	2020-21 Actual
Category 1 (urgent) patients admitted within 30 days	100%	68%
Category 2 pateints admitted within 60 days	97%	64%
Category 3 patients admitted within 90 days	97%	74%

Dr Fowles said underresourcing of the Health Department had been a problem from before the coronavirus pandemic.

“Covid hasn’t caused these problems, Covid has exposed them. We urgently need to recruit experienced doctors and nurses.”

The tourism vouchers are back hospitality Minister Natasha Fyles Picture Julianne Osborne

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said she was unable to discuss the sentinel events for privacy concerns.

“It’s important to note there has been a 30 per cent increase in hospital presentations in Top End hospitals over the past five years,” Ms Fyles said.

She said significant investment was being made to boost surgery and mental health facilities in the Top End.

CLP Health spokesman Bill Yan said the situation was serious, saying wait times had category one surgery patients waiting longer than clinically recommended 30 days jumped from 2.4 per cent in 2018-19 to 32% in 2020-21.

Dr Thomas Fowles, President of ASMOF NT said the situation was concerning. Picture Julianne Osborne

“That is completely unacceptable and demonstrates the impact four Code Yellow bed blocks at RDH in less than 12 months and widespread staff shortages is having on Territorians,” Mr Yan said.

“We’ve seen a myriad of failures from the Gunner Labor Government when it comes to managing our health system: four Code Yellow bed blocks at Royal Darwin Hospital, chronic nurse shortages across the board, the Emergency Department cuts at Palmerston Regional Hospital, remote clinic closures, and mass cancellations of elective surgeries.”

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