Third Code Yellow in one year called for Royal Darwin Hospital after peak in capacity

The third Code Yellow in one year has been called for Royal Darwin Hospital.

A CODE Yellow has been called for Royal Darwin Hospital due to peaks in hospital capacity for the third time this year.

In a statement from NT Health, practices had been enacted to allow the hospital to manage the peak in demand until pressure eases.

“Patient safety is a priority and the dedicated staff at RDH work hard to ensure Territorians continue to receive the best patient centred care possible in these periods of high demand,” the statement read.

“We urge people who have non-emergency health needs to see their GP as soon as they become sick to try to avoid becoming acutely unwell and needing hospital attendance. This helps us care for those who most need a hospital bed.”

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the decision was made on Thursday morning after 48 hours of increased presentations.

Category two and three elective surgeries have temporarily been postponed to allow patients in need of urgent care to be admitted.

“NT Health will contact impacted patients as soon as possible with a new surgery date,” the NT Health statement read.

“Emergency surgery will continue as normal. Specialist outpatient appointments continue as normal.

“We thank our hard working and dedicated staff and thank our community for supporting us during these peaks of demand, we appreciate their understanding and patience.”

On August 4 a Code Yellow was called with RDH at or near “Escalation Plan Level 4” for 10 days, and another in late February for a lack of beds.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the frequency of Code Yellow was concerning.

“If a Code Yellow is declared at RDH when the Territory is Covid free, how will the hospital cope in the event of increased cases?” she said.

“Health Minister Natasha Fyles needs to explain how it is, with both RDH and Palmerston Regional Hospital servicing the Top End, that Code Yellows are becoming increasingly frequent.”