NT pharmacists threaten industrial action after closure looms over Katherine Hospital department

Pharmacists and technicians in Darwin, Alice and Katherine hospitals are ‘critically’ understaffed and struggling to function, according to Professional Pharmacists Australia.

Katherine District Hospital. Picture: Alex Treacy

Territorian pharmacists and technicians are threatening strike action as “burnt out” hospital staff in Darwin, Katherine and Alice are facing “critical” understaffing.

Pharmacy vacancy rates are so high, that Katherine Hospital pharmacy department is in danger of closing in a few months according to Professional Pharmacists Australia.

The body is currently in talks for a new NTPS Enterprise Agreement as the old one is due to expire on August 10.

The union which represents non-owner community and hospital pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, said members are threatening industrial action if vacancy rates are not urgently addressed.

However, NT Health and the Health Minister, Steve Edgington, said while strategies are in place, healthcare staffing shortages are being felt globally at the moment.

“The government’s broader workforce attraction measures include interstate and international recruitment initiatives, skilled migration programs, and incentive packages designed to attract and retain health professionals in critical roles,” Mr Edgington said.

While recruiting and keeping health staff in the NT is a well recorded issue, pharmacists and technicians at Royal Darwin Hospital and Alice Springs Hospital are currently operating with a 30 per cent vacancy rate.

Alice Springs Hospital. Picture: Gera Kazakov

In Katherine, the lack of qualified candidates could result in the pharmacy department’s closure.

However, NT Health has said they have plans in place to ensure the pharmacy remains “operational”.

If the pharmacy closes, it will cause “serious barriers” to patients accessing treatment, said the president of Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA).

President Leon Yap said it would impact a range of patients including those going through chemotherapy at the hospital.

“While the pharmacy team at Royal Darwin Hospital works hard on contingency plans there is a very real threat to cancer services in regional NT, especially if staffing levels at Royal Darwin Hospital are not addressed,” he said.

Royal Darwin Hospital vacancy rates are currently at 30 per cent according to PPA. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“There have been longstanding vacancy rates that have been ignored and without these services, patient safety is at serious risk and services will face closure.

“Our members have asked for an attraction and retention allowance and improvements to base pay rates and conditions as part of enterprise agreement negotiations.

“However, the offer put forward by NT Government is inadequate.”

Mr Yap said industrial action is the “last thing” health care professionals want but in the face of burn out, long hours and “critical” understaffing, they feel it is the only choice left to protect patient safety.

“They’re committed to patient care, but the system continues to undermine them,” Mr Yap added.

“PPA is calling on the NT government to act now and provide an offer as part of enterprise agreement negotiations that will boost attraction and retention and allow the pharmacy department to fill vacant roles and stem the tide of resignations.”

‘Industrial action will not impact patient safety’

NT Health said the staffing shortage in the healthcare sector is not new in the Northern Territory and is being felt “globally and nationally”.

To help fill pharmacy positions and maintain services, a spokesperson for NT Health said “short, medium, and long-term strategies” are being put in place and the staffing situation at Katherine Hospital is being monitored.

“This includes actively managing staffing levels across NT public hospitals while undertaking targeted recruitment campaigns and working with labour hire providers,” a spokesperson said.

“NT Health is reviewing and adjusting our service delivery model based on staffing levels to ensure people have equitable service and access to medicine.

“NT Health is monitoring the staffing levels at the Katherine Hospital pharmacy, with active recruitment actions underway and has plans in place to ensure patients receive their medication and the pharmacy remains operational.”

If the joint negotiations alongside the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (OCPE) are unsuccessful with PPA, NT Health said they will work “to ensure that any industrial action will not impact patient safety”.

“NT Health thanks its staff for their ongoing support and resilience to provide patient care, often in challenging circumstances and during periods of high demand,” a spokesperson stated.

The OCPE said conversations began in February this year with PPA.

The negotiations are for a new NTPS 2021 – 2025 Enterprise Agreement which is due to expire on August 10.

Health Minister Steve Edgington said the government is working to attract skilled professionals to the Territory. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“An offer for a new Agreement will be made on August 5, which will provide employees and unions the opportunity to consider the package relevant to their workforce and to provide feedback,” an OCPE spokesperson said.

“The government acknowledges and appreciates the dedication of all its employees, and should any industrial action proceed, measures will be in place to minimise the impact on important service delivery to Territorians.”

Addressing the concerns around staffing, the NT Health Minister, Steve Edgington, said

alongside the recruiting strategies being enacted by NT Health, the government is also carrying out broader measures.

“The Government is implementing broader workforce attraction measures, as part of the Rebuilding the Economy Strategy, to bring skilled professionals to the Territory,” Mr Edgington said.

“This includes interstate and international recruitment initiatives, skilled migration programs, and incentive packages designed to attract and retain health professionals in critical roles.”