Seventh code yellow in six months declared for Darwin, Palmerston hospitals

High patient numbers have triggered internal disruptions at Top End hospitals as the health system declares its seventh Code Yellow in six months.

NT Health has confirmed a Code Yellow has been issued for the Darwin and Palmerston hospitals due to a peak in hospital demand and high occupancy rates.

A shortage of beds is again causing disruptions for staff at Top End hospitals, with another code yellow declared for the Royal Darwin and Palmerston facilities.

NT Health confirmed a Code Yellow had been issued for the two hospitals on Tuesday due to a peak in hospital demand and high occupancy rates.

Elective surgeries have not been deferred at this time.

A Health Department spokeswoman said the code yellow triggered a number of “practices” to manage the situation and “ease pressures on the hospital system, while providing high-quality safe care”.

“Surge management plans are in place to reallocate resources and support with admission and discharge processes,” she said.

A Health Department spokeswoman said a code yellow triggered a number of practices to manage the situation. Picture: David Gray/AFP

She said patient safety was a priority and thanked the hospital staff for “their hard work during these periods of high demand”.

It comes just a month after the last code yellow in the Top End, and marks the seventh internal hospital alert in just six months.

In Budget Estimates in June, Health Minister Natasha Fyles revealed the Royal Darwin and Palmerston hospitals had had nine code yellows due to bed capacity issues in the 2022-23 financial year.

Ms Fyles said the department had spent $533,446 to buy bed services from the Darwin Private Hospital during the Code Yellows.

In the 12 months to June the Health Department lost 582 employees, according to the latest Public Employment Commission data.

In the latest quarterly report, commissioner Vicki Telfer said the Territory’s health services went from 7955 full-time equivalent health workers in June 2022 to 7373 in March this year.