Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
When the cooler, dry season hits, we expect our country's
representatives to head north to escape the cold and look.
While I joke, it is a good opportunity to ensure
that the Northern Territory features in the federal psyche and
well for us here on three point sixty. Health has
been a massive talking point this year, so it's good
timing that the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention,
(00:22):
as well as Rural and Regional Health is currently in
Darwin and Emma mcride joins me on the line. Good
morning to you, Emma.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Good to be with you, Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Emma, you're in the top end for a special opening
out at Berry Springs this morning. What's opening?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I am delighted Katie to be in Berry Springs today
to open the new Perinatal Mental Health Center. Becoming a
parent is an exciting time, but it can also be challenging.
We know that one in five women and one in
ten men experience anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges
in this period, and often it's been hard to find support.
That's why we're opening the new peri natal Mental Health
(01:01):
Center in Berry Springs today so that parents can get
that support close to home and for free backed by Medicare.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
That's good to hear. So who'll sort of be able
to attend and what will it? You know, what kind
of services will it provide?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Any new or expectant parent, A parent who might have
experienced birth form o, pregnancy loss, is experiencing depression or
anxiety can see their GP to get a referral and
a mental health care plan and then will be provided
free in person or telehealth services by a trained mental
health practitioner who's an expert in periinatal mental health.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Look health has been one of the biggest topics for
US this year, and in particular funding for our health
system around the hospital and maternity funding. With the closure
of the private maternity ward, it had been promised that
ten million dollars would be provided to support the Royal
Dale and Hospital Maternity ward. However the money wasn't in
(01:56):
the federal budget as we'd expected. Are you I would
have shed any light on this for us?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Hetty? It is really disappointing to hear that the Provivate
Provide a Health Scope has chosen not to continue their
services at the dull And Private Hospital. And I know
Luke Gosling, like any good local member, has been strongly
advocating for his community following the closure. What I can
confirm is that an additional sixty seven million dollars will
flow through to Northern Territory public hospitals in the next
(02:25):
financial year, so just three weeks away. And this is
on top of the record fund being flowing from the
new National Health Agreement, which will leave the territory about
four hundred million dollars better off over the next five years.
And importantly, this funding gives the hospitals a flexibility to
direct investment where it's most needs, including across areas like
maternity services.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So by the sounds of it, there's not going to
be an additional ten million dollars. There's just going to
be that existing money because I know when we caught
up with Luke Gosling about this, he said that when
the MAIFO is done, whenever that happens, that we would
see an extra ten So are you able, I mean,
can you can you just tell us yes or no?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
This is an additional sixty seven million dollars of money
that was already announced.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah, but that was we already knew that was there
and we already know that our health system is absolutely
under the pump. I mean the federal government with Tasmania
for example, certainly tried to help and provide that further
funding in Tasmania when it comes to maternity services. So
again I just want to ask for us here in
the Northern Territory is there going to be anything specific
(03:33):
for maternity services.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
This is an additional as sixty seven million dollars on
top of the funding through the National Health and Hospitals
Reform Agreement, which will mean importantly that the nt Health
can direct funding towards critical services, including maternity services.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
So with that, with what Luke Gosling had said in
terms of that ten million as part of and please
you know tell me if I'm saying it wrong with
the MAIFO later in the year, is that so? Is
that not going to be the case.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
What I know is that Luke Gosling is a member
for Solomon and as a really hard working local member,
is continuing to advocate strongly for the community. From a
federal level, there is the National Hospital and Health Reform
Agreement which the territory will be seven hundred and forty
million dollars better off over the next five years. There's
this additional sixty seven million dollars that'll be flowing in
the new financial year in just three weeks. Because we
(04:27):
want to make sure that Territorians get the best health
support that they can and we'll continue working closely with
nt Health with Luke Solomon to make sure that your
local community gets the best support that they deserve.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So, by the sounds of it, the Northern Territory government
really if they want to upgrade the maternity ward of
the hospital at Royal Darwin Hospital, they've got to find
it from that sixty seven million.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Sixty This is extra funding and that means importantly that
they can it's flexible and they can direct the investment
where it's most needed, including in ser This is like maternity.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Look under that agreement that you speak about with the
sixty seven million, I know that when we've spoken to
the Australian Medical Association of the Northern Territory they say
that it really only brings us up to a starting
point and that we're two hundred million dollars behind. So
they really feel as though it's not enough. And look,
I don't want to sound ungrateful, because of course we
(05:22):
hear in the Northern Territory are happy that we're getting
that additional funding, but I also speak to mums, you know,
pretty regularly who are really very upset. And I know
that it's not you know, the federal government or the
Northern Territory government's fault that we no longer have those
private maternity services, but what we do know is that
it's putting pressure on our public hospital. And you know,
(05:44):
the Northern Territory Health Department had done the work to
try and get that additional ten million dollars, and you know,
now we're sort of being told, well, that money's got
to be found from the funding that we've already got.
So I guess you can understand why people listening this
morning are probably feeling a bit frustrated.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Katie this season. If I can just emphasize this, sixty
seven million dollars is additional money that will be flowing
in the next financial year on top of a record investment.
Whether Northern Territory Health will be seven hundred and forty
million dollars better off over the next five years, and
I want to just reassure your listeners that as being
(06:22):
here within the territory and listening to local people that
I want to make sure that Territorians have the best care,
quality care close to home, which is why we're making
record investments, including in Medicare urgent care clinics. I visited
the new one in Darwin yesterday and Palmerston to see
bolk billing now has increased to nearly ninety percent across
the territory. Twenty five bulk billing clinics now across the territory.
(06:44):
This is a historic investment from the Commonwealth improving access
to quality care close to home affordable for Territorians.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Yeah, look, which is good news and I don't want
to diminish that it is good news. But at the moment,
you know, according to discussions that we've had with the AMA,
the Australian Medical Association here in the Northern Territory are
their head doctor John Zorbis, has really said that you
know that we are still struggling and that is because
you know, we've got age care patients that are in
(07:14):
beds at Royal Darwin Hospital. We also, you know, the
government's funding that top end medical retrieval and remote primary care,
so that is all having an impact on the health
budget and you know even today the Royal Darwin Hospitals
in a Code yellow, as is the Palmerston Regional Hospital.
So there's a lot of pressure on our hospitals at the.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Moment, and this is why, as a commonwealth who is
principally responsible for primary care, to make sure that people
can get care sooner so that that doesn't their needs
don't escalate to where they need to resent to an
emergency department. That's why we have made a historic investment
in the top end in the Northern Territory. And I
was really pleased when I was visiting with a member
for Solomon yesterday at the dal and Medicare Urgent Care
(07:58):
clinic to know in less three weeks already five hundred
and fifty local people have received care for free backed
by Medicare, reducing pressure on the emergency department. We know
that many of the presentations to urgent to emergency departments
or a semi urgent or non urgent, and across the
country we're seeing a reduction in those presentations to hospitals,
(08:20):
reducing the pressure on hospital emergency departments through urgent care.
So we will continue to make this record investment in
the top end for Territorians to make sure that local
people get the support that they need and that they deserve.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
If you have to joined us on the show with
us this morning is Emma McBride. She's the Assistant Minister
for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and for Rural and
Regional Health federally, so the federal Assistant Minister. Now, Minister,
I do want to ask you an ABC report locally
yesterday will a damning report revealing that the Northern Territories
(08:55):
only use mental health inpatient facility was unable to uphold
SEAS sixteen national safety standards, posing an unmanageable risk to
patients and staff. The twenty twenty four report, obtained by
the ABC under freedom of information laws, was commissioned by
nt Health after five major critical incidents occurred in the
(09:16):
youth in patient program at Royal Darwin Hospital. Two years on,
no recommendations have reportedly been implemented. As the Assistant Minister
for Mental Health, is this a concern to hear?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
I mean, Katie, I'm a former mental health worker myself.
I'm the pharmacists who work in acute impatient units for
many years. We want to make sure that all people
seeking support and the staff that are supporting them get
quality care and the right kind of support. This is
principally a matter for nt Health as it's an impatient program,
but of course it's a Commonwealth why we're making record
(09:52):
investments into public hospitals and into mental health. Is made
a more than one point one billion dollar investment in
mental health well being at the last election because we
know there is an increase in distress in society that
disproportionately is affecting young people. It is that is why
we're making these record investments to support people, including in
the Northern Territory, and tomorrow I'll be in Catherine and
(10:14):
visiting the Headspace center there to make sure that local
young people can get the support that they need close
to home when they need it.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
It is so incredibly important that our young people are
able to get that support. I mean, just in relation
to that report, is there anything like extra that the
Commonwealth can do? I know you've said that it's record investment,
but you know, is there anything more that you'd like
to see happen or that you think could happen in
that space What we.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Are doing and we announce this at the last election
that we're now introducing Headspace Plus. We know that when
Headspace was first introduced, one in five young people experience
mental health distress needing additional support in any year. That's
now doubled, which is why the last election we've committed
to a new model of care Headspace Plus, with more services,
more support and more funding. And there'll be a Headspace
(11:01):
Plus in Darwin so providing additional support for local people
in the community. There will also be a new Youth
Spactless Care service acknowledging that young people are better supported
in the community than in the public hospital system. And
this this new Youth Bestless Care service will mean that
young people experiencing early psychosis, eating disorders, broadline personality disorder
(11:24):
will be able to get better support in the community.
So a really big investment in with mental health in
the top end and in Darwin.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
So am I with that. I know that Headspace obviously operates.
I've spoken to them on a few occasions and they
do an incredible job. But with that Headspace Plus, is
that already happening or is that something that's on the cards?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
So it is Headspace Plus. So the Youth Models of
Care consultation ends this week after which Headspace Plus will
be introduced in thirty locations across the country. One of
those will be in Darwin to make sure that across
the country young people get additional support to meet the
growing demand and they're evolving health needs. Well.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Emma McBride, we really appreciate your time this morning. Thank
you very much for joining us on the show. How
are you enjoying the weather? Are you here from somewhere
freezing cold?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I come from the central Coast in New South Wales,
but we had two sitting weeks in Canberra, so it's
really wonderful to be here in Berry Springs today and
in Darwin yesterday and then heading off to Catherine tomorrow.
So thanks so much Katie for your time today.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Thank you, I really appreciate it.
When the cooler, dry season hits, we expect our country's
representatives to head north to escape the cold and look.
While I joke, it is a good opportunity to ensure
that the Northern Territory features in the federal psyche and
well for us here on three point sixty. Health has
been a massive talking point this year, so it's good
timing that the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention,
(00:22):
as well as Rural and Regional Health is currently in
Darwin and Emma mcride joins me on the line. Good
morning to you, Emma.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Good to be with you, Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Emma, you're in the top end for a special opening
out at Berry Springs this morning. What's opening?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I am delighted Katie to be in Berry Springs today
to open the new Perinatal Mental Health Center. Becoming a
parent is an exciting time, but it can also be challenging.
We know that one in five women and one in
ten men experience anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges
in this period, and often it's been hard to find support.
That's why we're opening the new peri natal Mental Health
(01:01):
Center in Berry Springs today so that parents can get
that support close to home and for free backed by Medicare.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
That's good to hear. So who'll sort of be able
to attend and what will it? You know, what kind
of services will it provide?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Any new or expectant parent, A parent who might have
experienced birth form o, pregnancy loss, is experiencing depression or
anxiety can see their GP to get a referral and
a mental health care plan and then will be provided
free in person or telehealth services by a trained mental
health practitioner who's an expert in periinatal mental health.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Look health has been one of the biggest topics for
US this year, and in particular funding for our health
system around the hospital and maternity funding. With the closure
of the private maternity ward, it had been promised that
ten million dollars would be provided to support the Royal
Dale and Hospital Maternity ward. However the money wasn't in
(01:56):
the federal budget as we'd expected. Are you I would
have shed any light on this for us?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Hetty? It is really disappointing to hear that the Provivate
Provide a Health Scope has chosen not to continue their
services at the dull And Private Hospital. And I know
Luke Gosling, like any good local member, has been strongly
advocating for his community following the closure. What I can
confirm is that an additional sixty seven million dollars will
flow through to Northern Territory public hospitals in the next
(02:25):
financial year, so just three weeks away. And this is
on top of the record fund being flowing from the
new National Health Agreement, which will leave the territory about
four hundred million dollars better off over the next five years.
And importantly, this funding gives the hospitals a flexibility to
direct investment where it's most needs, including across areas like
maternity services.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So by the sounds of it, there's not going to
be an additional ten million dollars. There's just going to
be that existing money because I know when we caught
up with Luke Gosling about this, he said that when
the MAIFO is done, whenever that happens, that we would
see an extra ten So are you able, I mean,
can you can you just tell us yes or no?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
This is an additional sixty seven million dollars of money
that was already announced.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah, but that was we already knew that was there
and we already know that our health system is absolutely
under the pump. I mean the federal government with Tasmania
for example, certainly tried to help and provide that further
funding in Tasmania when it comes to maternity services. So
again I just want to ask for us here in
the Northern Territory is there going to be anything specific
(03:33):
for maternity services.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
This is an additional as sixty seven million dollars on
top of the funding through the National Health and Hospitals
Reform Agreement, which will mean importantly that the nt Health
can direct funding towards critical services, including maternity services.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
So with that, with what Luke Gosling had said in
terms of that ten million as part of and please
you know tell me if I'm saying it wrong with
the MAIFO later in the year, is that so? Is
that not going to be the case.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
What I know is that Luke Gosling is a member
for Solomon and as a really hard working local member,
is continuing to advocate strongly for the community. From a
federal level, there is the National Hospital and Health Reform
Agreement which the territory will be seven hundred and forty
million dollars better off over the next five years. There's
this additional sixty seven million dollars that'll be flowing in
the new financial year in just three weeks. Because we
(04:27):
want to make sure that Territorians get the best health
support that they can and we'll continue working closely with
nt Health with Luke Solomon to make sure that your
local community gets the best support that they deserve.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So, by the sounds of it, the Northern Territory government
really if they want to upgrade the maternity ward of
the hospital at Royal Darwin Hospital, they've got to find
it from that sixty seven million.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Sixty This is extra funding and that means importantly that
they can it's flexible and they can direct the investment
where it's most needed, including in ser This is like maternity.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Look under that agreement that you speak about with the
sixty seven million, I know that when we've spoken to
the Australian Medical Association of the Northern Territory they say
that it really only brings us up to a starting
point and that we're two hundred million dollars behind. So
they really feel as though it's not enough. And look,
I don't want to sound ungrateful, because of course we
(05:22):
hear in the Northern Territory are happy that we're getting
that additional funding, but I also speak to mums, you know,
pretty regularly who are really very upset. And I know
that it's not you know, the federal government or the
Northern Territory government's fault that we no longer have those
private maternity services, but what we do know is that
it's putting pressure on our public hospital. And you know,
(05:44):
the Northern Territory Health Department had done the work to
try and get that additional ten million dollars, and you know,
now we're sort of being told, well, that money's got
to be found from the funding that we've already got.
So I guess you can understand why people listening this
morning are probably feeling a bit frustrated.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Katie this season. If I can just emphasize this, sixty
seven million dollars is additional money that will be flowing
in the next financial year on top of a record investment.
Whether Northern Territory Health will be seven hundred and forty
million dollars better off over the next five years, and
I want to just reassure your listeners that as being
(06:22):
here within the territory and listening to local people that
I want to make sure that Territorians have the best care,
quality care close to home, which is why we're making
record investments, including in Medicare urgent care clinics. I visited
the new one in Darwin yesterday and Palmerston to see
bolk billing now has increased to nearly ninety percent across
the territory. Twenty five bulk billing clinics now across the territory.
(06:44):
This is a historic investment from the Commonwealth improving access
to quality care close to home affordable for Territorians.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Yeah, look, which is good news and I don't want
to diminish that it is good news. But at the moment,
you know, according to discussions that we've had with the AMA,
the Australian Medical Association here in the Northern Territory are
their head doctor John Zorbis, has really said that you
know that we are still struggling and that is because
you know, we've got age care patients that are in
(07:14):
beds at Royal Darwin Hospital. We also, you know, the
government's funding that top end medical retrieval and remote primary care,
so that is all having an impact on the health
budget and you know even today the Royal Darwin Hospitals
in a Code yellow, as is the Palmerston Regional Hospital.
So there's a lot of pressure on our hospitals at the.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Moment, and this is why, as a commonwealth who is
principally responsible for primary care, to make sure that people
can get care sooner so that that doesn't their needs
don't escalate to where they need to resent to an
emergency department. That's why we have made a historic investment
in the top end in the Northern Territory. And I
was really pleased when I was visiting with a member
for Solomon yesterday at the dal and Medicare Urgent Care
(07:58):
clinic to know in less three weeks already five hundred
and fifty local people have received care for free backed
by Medicare, reducing pressure on the emergency department. We know
that many of the presentations to urgent to emergency departments
or a semi urgent or non urgent, and across the
country we're seeing a reduction in those presentations to hospitals,
(08:20):
reducing the pressure on hospital emergency departments through urgent care.
So we will continue to make this record investment in
the top end for Territorians to make sure that local
people get the support that they need and that they deserve.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
If you have to joined us on the show with
us this morning is Emma McBride. She's the Assistant Minister
for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and for Rural and
Regional Health federally, so the federal Assistant Minister. Now, Minister,
I do want to ask you an ABC report locally
yesterday will a damning report revealing that the Northern Territories
(08:55):
only use mental health inpatient facility was unable to uphold
SEAS sixteen national safety standards, posing an unmanageable risk to
patients and staff. The twenty twenty four report, obtained by
the ABC under freedom of information laws, was commissioned by
nt Health after five major critical incidents occurred in the
(09:16):
youth in patient program at Royal Darwin Hospital. Two years on,
no recommendations have reportedly been implemented. As the Assistant Minister
for Mental Health, is this a concern to hear?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
I mean, Katie, I'm a former mental health worker myself.
I'm the pharmacists who work in acute impatient units for
many years. We want to make sure that all people
seeking support and the staff that are supporting them get
quality care and the right kind of support. This is
principally a matter for nt Health as it's an impatient program,
but of course it's a Commonwealth why we're making record
(09:52):
investments into public hospitals and into mental health. Is made
a more than one point one billion dollar investment in
mental health well being at the last election because we
know there is an increase in distress in society that
disproportionately is affecting young people. It is that is why
we're making these record investments to support people, including in
the Northern Territory, and tomorrow I'll be in Catherine and
(10:14):
visiting the Headspace center there to make sure that local
young people can get the support that they need close
to home when they need it.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
It is so incredibly important that our young people are
able to get that support. I mean, just in relation
to that report, is there anything like extra that the
Commonwealth can do? I know you've said that it's record investment,
but you know, is there anything more that you'd like
to see happen or that you think could happen in
that space What we.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Are doing and we announce this at the last election
that we're now introducing Headspace Plus. We know that when
Headspace was first introduced, one in five young people experience
mental health distress needing additional support in any year. That's
now doubled, which is why the last election we've committed
to a new model of care Headspace Plus, with more services,
more support and more funding. And there'll be a Headspace
(11:01):
Plus in Darwin so providing additional support for local people
in the community. There will also be a new Youth
Spactless Care service acknowledging that young people are better supported
in the community than in the public hospital system. And
this this new Youth Bestless Care service will mean that
young people experiencing early psychosis, eating disorders, broadline personality disorder
(11:24):
will be able to get better support in the community.
So a really big investment in with mental health in
the top end and in Darwin.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
So am I with that. I know that Headspace obviously operates.
I've spoken to them on a few occasions and they
do an incredible job. But with that Headspace Plus, is
that already happening or is that something that's on the cards?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
So it is Headspace Plus. So the Youth Models of
Care consultation ends this week after which Headspace Plus will
be introduced in thirty locations across the country. One of
those will be in Darwin to make sure that across
the country young people get additional support to meet the
growing demand and they're evolving health needs. Well.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Emma McBride, we really appreciate your time this morning. Thank
you very much for joining us on the show. How
are you enjoying the weather? Are you here from somewhere
freezing cold?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I come from the central Coast in New South Wales,
but we had two sitting weeks in Canberra, so it's
really wonderful to be here in Berry Springs today and
in Darwin yesterday and then heading off to Catherine tomorrow.
So thanks so much Katie for your time today.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Thank you, I really appreciate it.
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