Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
But we are certainly continuing our discussion today around the
(00:03):
situation with health Scope, and we know that there are
plenty of people really quite concerned about what is unfolding now.
Healthscope issued a statement a little earlier saying all Healthscope
hospitals will continue operating, no impact on hospitals, staff or patients.
An additional one hundred million dollars in liquidity provided to
(00:24):
support operations. Healthscope management remains in place and focused on
patient care. But as you'd imagine, you know, despite that
statement coming out, I think a lot of us are
still thinking, well, what is this all going to mean?
And certainly I would imagine someone with a lot of
questions is the AMA's new president here in the Northern Territory,
(00:44):
Doctor John Zorbis. Good morning to you, Doctor.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Zorbis, Morning Katie, Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now,
first off, I mean what was your reaction when you
learned or certainly had it confirmed that this was indeed
going to be happening, that they were going into receivership
or into this situation that they're in.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, it wasn't a surprise to us. I think we've known,
there've been problems here since the very public fight that
Healthscope had with private health insurers, and there wasn't just Healthscope.
It was a fairly drawn out battle around how much
private health insurers provide and how much hospitals charge. But
we could see the writing on the wall back then
in terms of health Scope and finances and not surprised
(01:29):
by what's unfolded.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
So what does it mean when it comes to operations
or is that still unknown at this point in time.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Healthscope have made statements and assurances around keeping operations going.
I think it's been really important for us to see
that come off Bank and I believe Westpac as well
have come to the table to support that. Now Healthscope
say they've got enough money to keep their hospitals ticking
over and the operations will continue as normal. Our biggest
concern is for how long. I mean, this is just
(01:57):
a band aid on a dam. We need to we
need to make sure that we've got a plan going forward.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Doctors Orbis, please correct me if I'm wrong, but my
understanding as well. You know, when you look at the
private system here in the Northern Territory, is it some
of those private specialists that come to you know, to
the Northern Territory do some work at the private hospital,
but then sometimes do work at the public as well.
Is that the case and what could this mean with
(02:24):
some of those visiting specialists.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yeah, absolutely, that's the case here and that's generally the
case across the country. You do see a lot of
crossover between doctors that work in the private and doctors
that work in the public. It's it's you know, in
most places unusual for that to not happen, but sit
that also places and you know, a factor on keeping
people up here. We know that people enjoy different parts
(02:47):
of work. I mean, we don't just like to do
one job. We like to do lots of parts of
our work to keep our skills sharp and to keep
the job interesting. And that's a big recruitment and retention
issue for us. There are some specialties that are really
heavy in the private and not so heavy in the public,
and if we lose those, we risk those surgeons and
positions not coming back to the NT or not staying
(03:08):
in the NT. So that's a that's a big factor
for us. And how this affects roll daren.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So doctors orbust water like water are some of those
specialists what are some of those healthcare professionals saying to you,
you know, now that we've learned the situation. Obviously, health
Scope saying that, you know, they've entered receivership, trying to
reassure everybody that it's business as usual. But I would
imagine that people are still feeling pretty worried.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, and uncertainty's a big factor here. I mean, there's
enough money there to say it's business as usual for
their general operations for a period of time, but those
reassurances from health Scope don't mean anything in the long term.
Health Scope can't say everything's fine when the company is
in rep receivership. That's an impossible position. So you know,
we've we've got two main questions. One is, you know,
(03:56):
what is happening with our patients and making sure that
their care is paramount. And I think there's enough on
the table to say health Scopes not closing DPH doors tomorrow,
So that's reassuring. But the second priority is once this
is done and dusted, once we have a new buyer,
or once we have a different model for dyl and private,
how do we stop this from happening again. Because in
a place like Darwin, where you've got a single private
(04:17):
hospital that provides such an important service, because this isn't
just about you know, people with money getting their operations,
this is also about services they provide to RDH as well.
So we can't afford for this to happen again.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Doctors Orbis. We spoke to the Northern Territories Health Minister
Steve Edgington a bit earlier on the show. He said
that he is today going to be meeting with his
other station and indeed his federal counterpart, to talk further
about this whole situation. I mean, what is the AMA's
message for the health ministers and indeed the federal government
(04:51):
at this point in time.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
We'd like to see them have a serious discussion around
setting up a private Hospital System Authority or formal authority,
a body that's at arm's length from the hospitals, from
the insurers, that's able to make a clear environment for
what private medicine looks like in Australia. So make it
really clear to everybody how this system works and how
(05:15):
it interfaces with the public as well.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Now in terms of you know, the situation that we're
in again, you know, like certainly all saying that it's
going to that things are going to operate as normal.
But do you feel as though this decision is going
to put some additional pressure on the public.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
System right now? No, apart from the maternity issues that
we're already aware of. But every day and every week
the passes that changes, And so would I be concerned
if I had an operation scheduled this week at DPH. No,
I know that no doctor, no nurse is going to
deliver substandard care just because the money is run out.
(05:56):
But with each month the passes and we don't have
assurance or certainty around who is going to run though
on private hospital, then those they really start to stack
up and then we've got serious questions that need to
be answered.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, and you know, as you've already touched on, we've
got so many specialists that come to the Northern Territory
that obviously work out of in a lot of you know,
in a lot of instances working out of the private hospital.
We just need this to get sorted right, like, right
across the board, right across Australia percent.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
We need to make sure that this system is fit
for purpose. Otherwise we've got a public system that can't
pick up the extra slack and it's not just about
you know, bringing specialists or encouraging them to come to
the NT. I mean this is also for business in
the NT as well. I mean it's a less attractive
place to come to. We don't have a functioning private
healthcare system and that's just a fact of life. And
(06:49):
that's a priority that we've tried to stress with the coop.
And we know that the CLP government is very big
on protecting the NT lifestyle or this is one of
those lifestyle priorities there should be a very high priority
for them.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, I agree with you. I mean it's something we've
spoken about at length with you know, with some of
the expectant mums, you know, in terms of the maternity services. Now,
I guess we've all been concerned that this was going
to become a broader issue in terms of health scope.
But even when you you know, you look at the
things that we've been discussing when it comes to the
maternity services and livability, you've just like, people need choice.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
They need to know that the care they're getting is
the care that they're paying for in the private sector,
and that they've got that flexibility of choice to you know,
in the case of maternity, have have a birth in
the way that they want to within the confines of safety. Now,
if there was no private hospital or private maternity services,
you know, there is a public system there, and the
(07:47):
public product is very very good. It's one of the
safest in the world. But the sheer capacity issues will
just snow us under over time. There is only so
much extra capacity in the public system any to be honest.
That's a big resourcing, big resourcing problem for the anti
government and for territorians.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Well, doctor John Zorbis, thank you for joining us on
the show this morning. Of course your first interview with
us as the as the head of the AMA here
in the Northern Territory. It's good to have you on.
I've no doubt we'll be talking to you much more often.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Absolutely pleasure being on.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Katie, Thank you, thanks so much for your time.
But we are certainly continuing our discussion today around the
(00:03):
situation with health Scope, and we know that there are
plenty of people really quite concerned about what is unfolding now.
Healthscope issued a statement a little earlier saying all Healthscope
hospitals will continue operating, no impact on hospitals, staff or patients.
An additional one hundred million dollars in liquidity provided to
(00:24):
support operations. Healthscope management remains in place and focused on
patient care. But as you'd imagine, you know, despite that
statement coming out, I think a lot of us are
still thinking, well, what is this all going to mean?
And certainly I would imagine someone with a lot of
questions is the AMA's new president here in the Northern Territory,
(00:44):
Doctor John Zorbis. Good morning to you, Doctor.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Zorbis, Morning Katie, Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now,
first off, I mean what was your reaction when you
learned or certainly had it confirmed that this was indeed
going to be happening, that they were going into receivership
or into this situation that they're in.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, it wasn't a surprise to us. I think we've known,
there've been problems here since the very public fight that
Healthscope had with private health insurers, and there wasn't just Healthscope.
It was a fairly drawn out battle around how much
private health insurers provide and how much hospitals charge. But
we could see the writing on the wall back then
in terms of health Scope and finances and not surprised
(01:29):
by what's unfolded.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
So what does it mean when it comes to operations
or is that still unknown at this point in time.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Healthscope have made statements and assurances around keeping operations going.
I think it's been really important for us to see
that come off Bank and I believe Westpac as well
have come to the table to support that. Now Healthscope
say they've got enough money to keep their hospitals ticking
over and the operations will continue as normal. Our biggest
concern is for how long. I mean, this is just
(01:57):
a band aid on a dam. We need to we
need to make sure that we've got a plan going forward.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Doctors Orbis, please correct me if I'm wrong, but my
understanding as well. You know, when you look at the
private system here in the Northern Territory, is it some
of those private specialists that come to you know, to
the Northern Territory do some work at the private hospital,
but then sometimes do work at the public as well.
Is that the case and what could this mean with
(02:24):
some of those visiting specialists.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yeah, absolutely, that's the case here and that's generally the
case across the country. You do see a lot of
crossover between doctors that work in the private and doctors
that work in the public. It's it's you know, in
most places unusual for that to not happen, but sit
that also places and you know, a factor on keeping
people up here. We know that people enjoy different parts
(02:47):
of work. I mean, we don't just like to do
one job. We like to do lots of parts of
our work to keep our skills sharp and to keep
the job interesting. And that's a big recruitment and retention
issue for us. There are some specialties that are really
heavy in the private and not so heavy in the public,
and if we lose those, we risk those surgeons and
positions not coming back to the NT or not staying
(03:08):
in the NT. So that's a that's a big factor
for us. And how this affects roll daren.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So doctors orbust water like water are some of those
specialists what are some of those healthcare professionals saying to you,
you know, now that we've learned the situation. Obviously, health
Scope saying that, you know, they've entered receivership, trying to
reassure everybody that it's business as usual. But I would
imagine that people are still feeling pretty worried.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, and uncertainty's a big factor here. I mean, there's
enough money there to say it's business as usual for
their general operations for a period of time, but those
reassurances from health Scope don't mean anything in the long term.
Health Scope can't say everything's fine when the company is
in rep receivership. That's an impossible position. So you know,
we've we've got two main questions. One is, you know,
(03:56):
what is happening with our patients and making sure that
their care is paramount. And I think there's enough on
the table to say health Scopes not closing DPH doors tomorrow,
So that's reassuring. But the second priority is once this
is done and dusted, once we have a new buyer,
or once we have a different model for dyl and private,
how do we stop this from happening again. Because in
a place like Darwin, where you've got a single private
(04:17):
hospital that provides such an important service, because this isn't
just about you know, people with money getting their operations,
this is also about services they provide to RDH as well.
So we can't afford for this to happen again.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Doctors Orbis. We spoke to the Northern Territories Health Minister
Steve Edgington a bit earlier on the show. He said
that he is today going to be meeting with his
other station and indeed his federal counterpart, to talk further
about this whole situation. I mean, what is the AMA's
message for the health ministers and indeed the federal government
(04:51):
at this point in time.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
We'd like to see them have a serious discussion around
setting up a private Hospital System Authority or formal authority,
a body that's at arm's length from the hospitals, from
the insurers, that's able to make a clear environment for
what private medicine looks like in Australia. So make it
really clear to everybody how this system works and how
(05:15):
it interfaces with the public as well.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Now in terms of you know, the situation that we're
in again, you know, like certainly all saying that it's
going to that things are going to operate as normal.
But do you feel as though this decision is going
to put some additional pressure on the public.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
System right now? No, apart from the maternity issues that
we're already aware of. But every day and every week
the passes that changes, And so would I be concerned
if I had an operation scheduled this week at DPH. No,
I know that no doctor, no nurse is going to
deliver substandard care just because the money is run out.
(05:56):
But with each month the passes and we don't have
assurance or certainty around who is going to run though
on private hospital, then those they really start to stack
up and then we've got serious questions that need to
be answered.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, and you know, as you've already touched on, we've
got so many specialists that come to the Northern Territory
that obviously work out of in a lot of you know,
in a lot of instances working out of the private hospital.
We just need this to get sorted right, like, right
across the board, right across Australia percent.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
We need to make sure that this system is fit
for purpose. Otherwise we've got a public system that can't
pick up the extra slack and it's not just about
you know, bringing specialists or encouraging them to come to
the NT. I mean this is also for business in
the NT as well. I mean it's a less attractive
place to come to. We don't have a functioning private
healthcare system and that's just a fact of life. And
(06:49):
that's a priority that we've tried to stress with the coop.
And we know that the CLP government is very big
on protecting the NT lifestyle or this is one of
those lifestyle priorities there should be a very high priority
for them.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, I agree with you. I mean it's something we've
spoken about at length with you know, with some of
the expectant mums, you know, in terms of the maternity services. Now,
I guess we've all been concerned that this was going
to become a broader issue in terms of health scope.
But even when you you know, you look at the
things that we've been discussing when it comes to the
maternity services and livability, you've just like, people need choice.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
They need to know that the care they're getting is
the care that they're paying for in the private sector,
and that they've got that flexibility of choice to you know,
in the case of maternity, have have a birth in
the way that they want to within the confines of safety. Now,
if there was no private hospital or private maternity services,
you know, there is a public system there, and the
(07:47):
public product is very very good. It's one of the
safest in the world. But the sheer capacity issues will
just snow us under over time. There is only so
much extra capacity in the public system any to be honest.
That's a big resourcing, big resourcing problem for the anti
government and for territorians.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Well, doctor John Zorbis, thank you for joining us on
the show this morning. Of course your first interview with
us as the as the head of the AMA here
in the Northern Territory. It's good to have you on.
I've no doubt we'll be talking to you much more often.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Absolutely pleasure being on.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Katie, Thank you, thanks so much for your time.
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