Recruitment of 400 extra staff for Howard Springs quarantine facility ‘won’t be rushed’ NT govt says

The NT government won’t “rush” the recruitment of 400 extra workers as there is “no deadline” on the agreement to more than double the capacity of the Howard Springs quarantine facility.

THE NT government won’t “rush” the recruitment of 400 extra workers as there is “no deadline” on the agreement to more than double the capacity of the Howard Springs quarantine facility.

The government’s latest statement after its highly criticised decision to take over the governance of the gold-standard facility comes after questions were raised by the NT’s peak medical body about the ability to recruit the workers needed.

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AUSMAT staff at the Howard Springs quarantine facility. The facility is set to expand to take in up to 2000 people per fortnight. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL via NCA NewsWire

Under an agreement between the Commonwealth and NT government, the capacity of the Howard Springs facility will more than double from 850 repatriated Australians per fortnight to 2000.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has said 400 extra workers would be hired as part of the expansion, a move that Australian Medical Association NT president Rob Parker believes will be incredibly difficult.

The mental health section of NT Health was already facing significant staff shortages, with 19 positions still vacant.

“I’m just not convinced we’ll be able to attract (more health professionals) to Darwin,” Dr Parker said.

“We are already facing significant staffing pressures to add to that pressure I don’t think is a particularly good thing.”

But an NT government spokesman said there was “no deadline” to hit the 2000 people per fortnight mark and the recruitment and training process would “not be rushed”.

“The capacity will begin ramping up from 850 to 2000 returned overseas travellers per fortnight from late April, with full capacity expected to be reached from June,” he said.

During his press conference on Friday, Mr Gunner said the capacity of Howard Springs would increase to 2000 people per fortnight “by late May”.

Dr Parker said staffing would be a key issue but he was also “not convinced” the standard of care put in place at the facility by the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre would be maintained under the NT government’s new structure.

Of particular worry is the decision to merge the international and domestic wings of the facility into one mega-quarantine site.

“Mixing a high risk group and a low risk group increase the potential for community spread,” Dr Parker said.

Doctor Robert Parker, the head of the AMA NT.

The NCCTRC, whose AUSMAT members set up the world-class facility, will be transitioned out as early as the end of March.

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Mr Chalker last week said the model that AUSMAT set up will remain in place and the NT government assuming control of facility will free up the NCCTRC for other crisis missions they may be needed for.

He said the structure shake up would have “negligible effect” on how business is conducted at Howard Springs.

“There is no fear here,” Mr Chalker said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the “single governance structure” decision had been made in “complete consultation” with NCCTRC executive director Professor Len Notaras and the Commonwealths’ Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.