Politicians debate into evening after Code Yellow at Darwin, Palmerston hospitals

Amid a Code Yellow at the Royal Darwin Hospital, a terrifying anecdote has been shared about the state of communication within NT Health during the Covid-19 crisis.

POLITICIANS debated well into Thursday evening on the precarious state of the Territory’s health system, after a Code Yellow was declared for the Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional hospitals.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro moved a matter of public importance into the situation, with her health spokesman Bill Yan describing the situation as “playing with the lives of people”.

“Of what I’ve seen inside the health system, I think there’s been some failings,” Mr Yan said.

“Communication has been one of the major failings of our Covid response.”

Mr Yan then described an anecdote he had heard from one of the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.

“The CEO of this organisation, when they know there’s going to be a press conference on Facebook, gets their three or four most senior executives together. They sit there and watch the press conference on Facebook,” he said.

CLP Health spokesman Bill Yan. Picture: Che Chorley

“Then one of them goes and checks the Secure NT website, another one goes and checks the NT Health Facebook page, and then another has a look at the Chief Minister’s Facebook page.

“And between the four of those individuals, they try and figure out what the new directions are and what those new directions mean to them, and how they’re going to implement those within their organisations.

“That does not inspire trust and confidence in government.”

Mr Yan said the government had failed to consult with the Australian Medical Association and the Nursing and Midwifery Federation over their concerns about the health system.

Local Government Minister Chansey Paech said the government, Aboriginal community health organisations and local governments had played a crucial role in co-ordinating the Territory’s response to Covid-19.

Police Minister Nicole Manison said the Territory’s ability to keep Covid-19 out until vaccination coverage was high had resulted in low rates of ICU admissions from the virus.

Code Yellow called for Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals

A code yellow has been called for both Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Hospital due to a peak in hospital capacity.

The peak in capacity comes as a result of both Covid-19 and non-Covid related demand with the current measures to prevent infection spread increasing the capacity issues.

An NT Health spokesperson urged people seeking non-emergency care to see their GP.

“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,” the spokesperson said.

“This helps us care for those who most need a hospital bed.

“We thank our hard working staff and the community for supporting us during these challenging times and appreciate your understanding and patience.”

UPDATE: THE Top End’s two main hospitals have moved to code yellow after a letter was sent to staff late on Wednesday afternoon.

The letter obtained by the NT News told staff a code yellow had been called for Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals due to overcrowding of both “red and green zones”.

As a result all category two and three surgeries were postponed till further notice. It also detailed considerable operational changes regarding patient flow in and out of the hospital.

The letter from the executive director Didier Palmer thanked all staff for the expertise, dedication and professionalism in these difficult times.

“I know there are many who are fatigued, so please support and be kind to each other as we work to get through this and care for our patients.”

It is the first time a code yellow has been called for Darwin and Palmerston hospital this year, however follows four code yellows in 2021.

The NT News contacted the Minister for Health’s office but she was not aware of the changes or letter to staff.

EARLIER: TWO peak health bodies have called for the NT government to declare a Code Brown emergency.

In a statement, the Australian Medical Association NT (AMANT) and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT (ANMF NT) said due to the current strain on health clinicians caused by the Covid Omicron outbreak, the government should consider calling a Code Brown.

A Code Brown is the highest level emergency response that can be declared in an Australian public hospital. It aims to ease the burden on health services when there is an influx of patients over a short time. Plans depend on each hospital but staff can be redeployed, their leave postponed and patients prioritised.

“The AMA NT and the ANMF NT are concerned that if these pressures on the health system and clinicians who work in it are not addressed formally through a Code Brown declaration, then clinical staff under significant pressure will be forced to take desperate measures such the Nurses strike in NSW today,” the statement said.

“The AMA NT and ANMF NT are hoping that with the declaration of the Code Brown in

the NT, this will allow more effective messaging about the expectations of the

community and health response and in respect to Covid and other health issues how

the Health Department is developing solutions to these needs.”

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said declaration of a Code Brown was an operational matter for the Health Department.

“Multiple system improvements are currently underway to reduce inpatient bed pressures at Royal Darwin Hospital such as improving surgical capacity and outreach services, bed capacity management strategies and recruitment of specialist staff,” she said.

“Our health staff work tremendously hard under increasing pressure under a global pandemic, and we acknowledge this.

“We are managing Covid-19 in a responsible and proportionate manner and plans have been put in place to ensure our hospital system can continue to provide high quality care to Territorians.”

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said declaring a code brown was a “very, very serious call to make”.

“We need to be listening to the people on the ground,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

Originally published as Politicians debate into evening after Code Yellow at Darwin, Palmerston hospitals