‘As Treasurer, I’m concerned’: Structural review launched into NT ambulance services

Third review launched into St John NT this year, as cost blow outs continue to plague the Territory health system.

The Northern Territory government has ordered an independent review into its ambulance services, as cost blow outs continue to plague the health system.

It is the third review this year into St John NT, after a financial review of the emergency ambulance provider was completed in April, and a clinical governance review is set to be handed up in the coming weeks.

St John’s contract with the government is due for renewal in early 2026, and Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the structural review aimed to ensure ambulance services were fit for purpose and providing best practice to meet the needs of Territorians into the future.

Recommendations will be made on service design and delivery, legislative framework, workforce capacity, funding, and governance – with suggestions it could prompt greater government intervention in St John’s operations.

The review will commence in July, with a final report to be provided to government by the end of the year, after the election.

St John NT’s contract with the government is due for renewal in early 2026. Picture: Che Chorley

St John NT receives $45.9m annually to provide road ambulance services to the Territory.

It has this year been granted an additional $7.8m to meet increased demand pressures, with the extra funding to be scrutinised under an independent audit of St John’s finances.

It comes as the health department head has been put on notice for overspending by what is forecast to be more than $240m this year.

“I’ve been concerned as Treasurer that we’ve seen St John having to come back to government – even though they have a contract – come back to government to top up (their budget),” Ms Lawler said.

“We need to make sure that money is being well spent.”

Data from the Productivity Commission shows St John NT responded to 241.1 incidents per 1000 people in 2022-23, the highest rate in Australia.

The average response time was 25.7 minutes that year, up from 17.1 minutes from a decade ago, while only 86.6 per cent of triple-0 ambulance calls were answered within 10 seconds, making it the slowest in the country.

Minister Selena Uibo and Chief Minister Eva Lawler. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Health Minister Selena Selena Uibo said there had been a lot of pressures on health services across the country, and the ambulance review would “examine whether our ambulance service provides contemporary best practice”.

“It is also an opportunity to consider the impact an expanded pre-hospital service can have on the current health services, and how a future service can enable the Northern Territory to meet its commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap,” she said.

St John NT said it welcomed the extra $7.8m funding, and any review into its services.

“We provide services to some of the most geographically diverse and remote parts of the country, with a population characterised with high levels of illness requiring emergency medical assistance,” chief executive Andrew Tombs said.

“This funding provides for the costs in delivering the ambulance service in the current climate, including increased demand, hospital delays and the rising cost of consumables.

“I am incredibly proud of our staff and what they achieve every day in a very challenging environment.”

Concept design of a 32 bed modular ward at the Royal Darwin Hospital. Local NT company Aspire has been awarded the $18.2 million contract to design and construct the new facility.

Meanwhile, Territory company Aspire Design & Construct has won a $18.2m contract to develop a 32 bed modular ward promised for the Royal Darwin Hospital.

Construction of the multipurpose ward will begin in the coming months, and the ward is expected to commence operations from mid-2025.

The intention is for the facility to be built using off site construction methods, which will assist to speed-up the construction and reduce disruption to staff, patients and the community. The new multipurpose ward will increase the number of beds available in the public hospital system, helping to improve patient flow and ease capacity pressures with agile capabilities to provide care for bariatric, renal and general patients.