Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, yesterday on the show I spoke to a lady
called Jeane Jaggs from the NT Parkinson's Support Group who'd
raised concerns that funding is soon going to run out
for a movement disordered specialist nurse. Now the Northern Territory
has won and she's been making a huge difference from
what Gene had told us on the show, not only
(00:20):
to those with Parkinson's disease, but a range of other conditions,
working with patients all the way through the journey. Now,
my understanding is that this role has been federally funded
until March next year. It was hoped that the Northern
Territory government would continue to find a way to fund
it moving forward. Now we got in touch with the
(00:40):
Health Minister, Steve Edgington about the situation. He joins me
on the line right now. Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Good morning Cody, and good morning to the listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now, Steve,
is the Northern Territory government going to take a closer
look at this vital role, the specialist nurse and the
world in which it is. Indeed, she is that nurse
is helping those with not only Parkinson's, but other movement disorders.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Oh, we certainly are. And Katie, this was brought to
my attention yesterday, So we're taking a very strong interest
in this and we've made a lot of progress already
just in the last twenty four hours. And you know,
what I can say is that primary healthcare funding in
the NT it is the responsibility of the Commonwealth government.
(01:29):
But what we have been doing is looking into the
program and what I can say upfront is that the
program will certainly be funded right through to twenty five
twenty six at this point. So that's the work that
we've been doing over the last twenty four hours. And
you know, I really thank Gene for bringing this to
everybody's attention because it's really shone the spotlight on what's
(01:52):
been happening in that space. And of course, the good
things that I found out is that the work going
on is absolutely exp We've got a specialist, nurse Yolanda Gomez,
who was named the Empty Nurse of the Year in
twenty twenty four, actually administering the program. So look, it
(02:13):
is good news from my perspective, absolutely, but we have
had the opportunity to look at the program more closely
and I'm really pleased to see the work that's going
on at the moment.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Well Health Minister Steve Edgington, I think that all of
our listeners are going to be really pleased to hear
that as well, particularly the likes of Jane and her
husband and everybody else in the Northern Territory who has Parkinson's,
has a loved one who has Parkinson's or another movement disorders.
So just to repeat that, so you are going to
(02:45):
you have gone and had a look at this in
the last twenty four hours since hearing those concerns raised,
and you are going to make sure that that program's
funded until twenty five twenty six, so that at least
gets some another year and then will you be looking
or having further discussions beyond.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
That, well, we certainly will. You know, the program actually
started off as a pilot program funded back in twenty
twenty one through a funding agreement which originally went through
to twenty twenty three, and at this stage the current program,
as I said, is now being extended right through to
the twenty five twenty six financial year. But look, as
(03:26):
I've said, we'll be having close conversations with the public
Health Network and also the Commonwealth to ensure that not
only does the program go through to twenty five twenty six,
but of course, like any program, that'll continue to be
evaluated and the needs assessed. So look, all going well now,
I can't see any reason why it shouldn't be funded
(03:48):
into the future.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
So in terms of that twenty twenty five twenty six funding,
so that essentially will at least get them another year,
won't it.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Certainly. Yeah, the final amount of that funding hasn't been
determined as yet, but what we have been advised of
is that the funding will extend through to twenty five
twenty six, and of course what we will do is
the NTE Health and in my role as the Minister,
will continue to monitor that program, which is being delivered
through the public Health Network, to ensure that the appropriate
(04:21):
funding is there.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
And look, you know it's I just think it's so
important and I feel I said this on a yesterday,
I feel like health was one of the sleeper issues
in the lead into the election. You know, you don't
know where we're falling short within the health system until
you're going through the health system and until you actually
you know, need a specialist nurse or someone in your
families is suffering through a health issue and unable to
(04:45):
get in for scans and things like that. But we've
heard so many stories over the last couple of years.
It does seem to me, Minister like you are going
to have a bloody big job on your hands as
the Minister for Health.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Oh certainly so. And look coming into the role, it's
certainly been an eye opener for me just to look
at the whole structure of the health around the Northern
Territory and look at all the different players in the system.
Because as I've said, this particular program is administered through
the Public Health Network, which is a Commonwealth funded, not
(05:20):
for profit independent organization. So there's all of these different
parts of the health system that I'm coming to grips
with at the moment, and these are the type of
programs that will continue to monitor through my portfolio as
a Health Minister. But I'm finding out more and more
every day, and it's a fantastic portfolio to be part of.
(05:42):
And what I am finding out is that we've got
so many professionals out there that are doing some magnificent
work and just to find out about this program and
here that we've got the NT Nurse of the Year
from twenty twenty four involved in this program.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
It's just incredible, well, and it seems utterly shocking and
I think almost embarrassing the fact that we were potentially
going to be in a situation where we lose it
to Interstate because we're not able to continue something that's
been such a valued, such a valued asset and service.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Oh exactly. And you know, some of the things that
I've also found out, Cody, is that just in the
life of this program, the program's been delivered to two
hundred and seventy two clients right across the Northern Territory
and including remote community. So the justification and the work
being done in this particular program certainly speaks for itself.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Yeah, well, I agree, Steve Edgington, the Minister for Health.
I really appreciate your time on this this morning, and
I know, well I think that they will absolutely appreciate
the fact that the Specialist Nurse is able to continue
on for at least another financial year and those discussions
will continue to be had. Thank you so much for
(06:55):
having a chat with us this morning, and thank you
for hearing the voices of those family and people affected
by Parkinson's and other movement disorders.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, thanks Katie, and it really has been a good
opportunity to look deeper into this program. But just as
a reminder to the organization, you know, the Parkinson's NTE
support group coordinator Gene. Just for Jane's information, I am
writing to mister Raja Chan today to update him on
(07:25):
what we found out with this program, so they can
expect a letter from me very shortly.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Good stuff, minister, thank you, thanks so much for having
a chat with us this morning.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Thanks Katie, and good morning to all the listeners.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Thank you.
Well, yesterday on the show I spoke to a lady
called Jeane Jaggs from the NT Parkinson's Support Group who'd
raised concerns that funding is soon going to run out
for a movement disordered specialist nurse. Now the Northern Territory
has won and she's been making a huge difference from
what Gene had told us on the show, not only
(00:20):
to those with Parkinson's disease, but a range of other conditions,
working with patients all the way through the journey. Now,
my understanding is that this role has been federally funded
until March next year. It was hoped that the Northern
Territory government would continue to find a way to fund
it moving forward. Now we got in touch with the
(00:40):
Health Minister, Steve Edgington about the situation. He joins me
on the line right now. Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Good morning Cody, and good morning to the listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now, Steve,
is the Northern Territory government going to take a closer
look at this vital role, the specialist nurse and the
world in which it is. Indeed, she is that nurse
is helping those with not only Parkinson's, but other movement disorders.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Oh, we certainly are. And Katie, this was brought to
my attention yesterday, So we're taking a very strong interest
in this and we've made a lot of progress already
just in the last twenty four hours. And you know,
what I can say is that primary healthcare funding in
the NT it is the responsibility of the Commonwealth government.
(01:29):
But what we have been doing is looking into the
program and what I can say upfront is that the
program will certainly be funded right through to twenty five
twenty six at this point. So that's the work that
we've been doing over the last twenty four hours. And
you know, I really thank Gene for bringing this to
everybody's attention because it's really shone the spotlight on what's
(01:52):
been happening in that space. And of course, the good
things that I found out is that the work going
on is absolutely exp We've got a specialist, nurse Yolanda Gomez,
who was named the Empty Nurse of the Year in
twenty twenty four, actually administering the program. So look, it
(02:13):
is good news from my perspective, absolutely, but we have
had the opportunity to look at the program more closely
and I'm really pleased to see the work that's going
on at the moment.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Well Health Minister Steve Edgington, I think that all of
our listeners are going to be really pleased to hear
that as well, particularly the likes of Jane and her
husband and everybody else in the Northern Territory who has Parkinson's,
has a loved one who has Parkinson's or another movement disorders.
So just to repeat that, so you are going to
(02:45):
you have gone and had a look at this in
the last twenty four hours since hearing those concerns raised,
and you are going to make sure that that program's
funded until twenty five twenty six, so that at least
gets some another year and then will you be looking
or having further discussions beyond.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
That, well, we certainly will. You know, the program actually
started off as a pilot program funded back in twenty
twenty one through a funding agreement which originally went through
to twenty twenty three, and at this stage the current program,
as I said, is now being extended right through to
the twenty five twenty six financial year. But look, as
(03:26):
I've said, we'll be having close conversations with the public
Health Network and also the Commonwealth to ensure that not
only does the program go through to twenty five twenty six,
but of course, like any program, that'll continue to be
evaluated and the needs assessed. So look, all going well now,
I can't see any reason why it shouldn't be funded
(03:48):
into the future.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
So in terms of that twenty twenty five twenty six funding,
so that essentially will at least get them another year,
won't it.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Certainly. Yeah, the final amount of that funding hasn't been
determined as yet, but what we have been advised of
is that the funding will extend through to twenty five
twenty six, and of course what we will do is
the NTE Health and in my role as the Minister,
will continue to monitor that program, which is being delivered
through the public Health Network, to ensure that the appropriate
(04:21):
funding is there.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
And look, you know it's I just think it's so
important and I feel I said this on a yesterday,
I feel like health was one of the sleeper issues
in the lead into the election. You know, you don't
know where we're falling short within the health system until
you're going through the health system and until you actually
you know, need a specialist nurse or someone in your
families is suffering through a health issue and unable to
(04:45):
get in for scans and things like that. But we've
heard so many stories over the last couple of years.
It does seem to me, Minister like you are going
to have a bloody big job on your hands as
the Minister for Health.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Oh certainly so. And look coming into the role, it's
certainly been an eye opener for me just to look
at the whole structure of the health around the Northern
Territory and look at all the different players in the system.
Because as I've said, this particular program is administered through
the Public Health Network, which is a Commonwealth funded, not
(05:20):
for profit independent organization. So there's all of these different
parts of the health system that I'm coming to grips
with at the moment, and these are the type of
programs that will continue to monitor through my portfolio as
a Health Minister. But I'm finding out more and more
every day, and it's a fantastic portfolio to be part of.
(05:42):
And what I am finding out is that we've got
so many professionals out there that are doing some magnificent
work and just to find out about this program and
here that we've got the NT Nurse of the Year
from twenty twenty four involved in this program.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
It's just incredible, well, and it seems utterly shocking and
I think almost embarrassing the fact that we were potentially
going to be in a situation where we lose it
to Interstate because we're not able to continue something that's
been such a valued, such a valued asset and service.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Oh exactly. And you know, some of the things that
I've also found out, Cody, is that just in the
life of this program, the program's been delivered to two
hundred and seventy two clients right across the Northern Territory
and including remote community. So the justification and the work
being done in this particular program certainly speaks for itself.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Yeah, well, I agree, Steve Edgington, the Minister for Health.
I really appreciate your time on this this morning, and
I know, well I think that they will absolutely appreciate
the fact that the Specialist Nurse is able to continue
on for at least another financial year and those discussions
will continue to be had. Thank you so much for
(06:55):
having a chat with us this morning, and thank you
for hearing the voices of those family and people affected
by Parkinson's and other movement disorders.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, thanks Katie, and it really has been a good
opportunity to look deeper into this program. But just as
a reminder to the organization, you know, the Parkinson's NTE
support group coordinator Gene. Just for Jane's information, I am
writing to mister Raja Chan today to update him on
(07:25):
what we found out with this program, so they can
expect a letter from me very shortly.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Good stuff, minister, thank you, thanks so much for having
a chat with us this morning.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Thanks Katie, and good morning to all the listeners.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Thank you.
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