November 5, 2025 • 10 mins
The Health Minister revealed exclusively to 360 with Katie Woolf, in his discussions with the Commonwealth, there may only be $10million provided to maternity services at RDH instead of the requested $35million.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining us on the line is the Minister for Health,
Steve Edgington. Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning Cody, and good morning to all the listeners
up there in Darwen.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Now, Minister, is that code yellow still in place at
the moment for Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional Hospitals.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yes, it is, Cody, the code yellow is still in place.
I received an update from the department last night. So
there still is some bed block or access to beds
there at the Royal Daren Hospital and what we're seeing
is still still a number of patients in the ED
that are waiting for treatment at the moment.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
So how serious is this capacity issue right now? I
know that earlier in the week the Health Department had said,
you know, the main reason behind this is the fact
that we've got age care patients in beds that should
actually be in an age care facility. I mean, this
is something we've been talking about since Natasha Files was
the Health Minister, possibly even longer. But just first off,
(00:58):
how serious is this capacity issue?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, when it comes to capacity, Katie, what we do
know is that as of a couple of days ago,
there was around forty four age care patients in the
Royal dar owned hospital. So that's forty four beds that
could be used for acute care patients. The issue is
that what we want to see in the federal government
have finally announced a process for the sixty million dollar
(01:26):
commitment to build an age care facility. We want to
see age care patients in proper care facilities and families
deserve that. So we're really keen for the federal government
to move ahead with this process as quickly as possible.
But in the meantime, what we are doing, Katie, is
we are busy building a new ward up there in Darwin.
(01:48):
So the new ward will consist of around about thirty
new beds and we're also building the new mental health
care facility up there as well.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
So look over me, when is that new ward going
to be operational?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So the new ward, we're expecting that new war should
be operational by midyear next year, so it's going to
be thirty two beds. It's being built alongside the emergency
as we speak.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Look, that is good news, I think welcome news to
a lot of listeners this morning. In the meantime, with
those forty four aged care patients, you know they need
those beads. We know that they need those beds, but
what juggling is being done by the department and by
those working in our hospitals, you know, to manage the
situation that they're currently in. And I know this has
(02:38):
been a juggle for many years.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well certainly, and I want to commend all of the staff, Katie,
because I know from management down to our nurses and
doctors working on the floor there in Darwin at the moment,
they're extremely busy, but they're doing their absolute best to
ensure that there's a proper flow of patients through that
emergency area, trying to juggle and putting a priority on
(03:06):
the clinical making those clinical assessments of the number of
people that are sitting in ED. That's a priority for
our staff on the ground. So they're doing all the
hard yards at the moment and they should be commended
for the work that they're doing. But trying to juggle
access to beds at the moment is very difficult. We
really need that age care for somebody built asap, and.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Labor claims that the COLP scrapped funding that was allocated
towards planning for that age care center. Has the CLP
pushed the project backwards for the age care center.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
No, we've never scrapped any funding, Katie, and I think
this is just another diversionary tactic from the federal government
because to suggest that we've ripped any money out of
the budget. What we've always said, Katie, right from the
word go, is that not only will we make land
available at Parmesan on the possible Parmesan Hospital grounds, will
(04:01):
commit twelve million dollars to do the headworks that are
necessary for that construction to go ahead. We're ready, we're
just waiting for the federal government to now complete the process.
And you've got to look back that election commitment was
made back in April. We haven't seen a new age
care bed built by the federal government since twenty nineteen
in dah and so this has been a five nearly
(04:22):
six year gap between any increase in age care beds
in Darh and so we're really encouraging the Age Care
sorry the federal government to get on with the job
and build it as soon as possible because we want
to see age care patients in proper facilities. They deserve it.
Families want age care patients in facilities where they're being
(04:42):
cared for it properly. The hospital is not the appropriate
place for a agecare person.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
No, I don't think you'll get many people disagree with that,
and I think that it needs to happen. It needed
to happen, you know, years ago. But I want to
move along because we know that. Over the weekend there
was a forum that was held. We talked about concerns
when it comes to maternity services, the Our Birth, Our
Voice forum, highlighting many families in the Northern Territory are
(05:09):
choosing to relocate interstate for maternity care. What immediate actions
is the department taking not only to stop people leaving,
but to provide that continuity of care that women are
really calling for.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Look, the immediate action we're taking is that we've just
recently spent around about three hundred thousand on the really
some cosmetic changes in the maternity But look, we want
to ensure that we have a choice for families here
in Darwin and that the issue at the moment is
that we do know that healthscopes and administration. But what
we have done is we've had communication with the federal government.
(05:50):
We've also had communication with the receivers that the administrators
that are looking at the possibility of new buyers of
the private hospital in Darwin. So we've kept in close
contact with them and what we want to do is
be in a position that when a new.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Oh we seem to have lost the minister. Hoping that
I have got the Minister on the line, Steve Edgington,
I do apologize for our tech issues.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Can you hear me, Katie? I wasn't sure there was
your end or it.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I know. Well, look, while I've still got your couple
of really quick ones, because I know you pressed for
time and I appreciate you staying on hold. We know
the Forum heard on the weekend that NTY Health funding
that request from the Commonwealth. You guys requested thirty five
million dollars when it comes to maternity services. It was
revealed that it may not be that much. How much
(06:39):
is it going to be from your understanding?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Look, we've always asked for thirty five million, and I've
been corresponding with the Federal Minister, Mark Butler, and we've
had some good discussions about this. But the latest update
in regard to the funding is that the federal government
has suggested that an offer of around ten million dollars
would be more in line with the Tasmania and New
(07:04):
South Wales. So at the moment, I'm just waiting to
hear back from the Federal Minister around where we go,
whether it's the thirty five or the ten million, but
it's looking more likely to be a ten million dollar package.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Ten million dollars. I mean, are you disappointed? That's twenty
five million dollars less than what you'd requested.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Catie, Look, I'm extremely disappointed because we want to make
sure that our maternity ward meets the very highest standards
so that families have the very best birthing experience. But
look at the moment when it comes to funding right
across the Northern Territory. At the moment, what we do
know is that we're already two hundred million dollars short
(07:44):
per year with the National Health Agreement, but also we're
about one hundred and eighty six million short when it
comes to other funding. As I said before, it's costing
US forty million to look after age care patients, which
we like to do, but it's a federal responsibility. It's
costing US over fifty million dollars a year to provide
a care flight patient retrieval service. And we're also we're
(08:08):
putting ninety five million dollars into primary healthcare, which again
is a federal responsibility. So we're already four hundred million
dollars a year short. We're hoping to get the best possible.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Outcome, Minister, just really quickly before I let you go,
I mean with only. I'm hesitant to say only, because
ten million dollars is still a heck of a lot
of money. But with ten million dollars rather than thirty five,
what are you actually going to be able to deliver?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
So with the ten million dollars, look, there'll be some
very minor capital works, and what we want to do
is improve the rooms where mothers are giving birth. We
want to ensure that there's a proper facilities where there's
not only a refurbishment of some of the rooms, but
an expansion and hopefully some additional rooms. But that's unlikely
(08:57):
with ten million dollars. It'll be mainly a reefer ibishment
of the maternity ward at rolled onn.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
I know that's going to be so disappointing for people
to hear this morning, and I don't want to sound
ungrateful to the federal government, But ten million dollars and
when you look at what that's going to do comparatively
to what we need, seems like a bit of a
kick in the guts.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Well, it is disappointing. So the maternity ward is Look,
it's a very aged facility, so any upgrade is very
important because we're talking about years and years of no
upgrades being done in that particular space. So ten million dollars, Look,
we would love to get the thirty five million dollars
(09:38):
because we want to make sure that mothers have the
very best of birthing experience. But we are hopeful that
once a buyer for the private hospital is identified, we
can get to the table has some serious conversations about
ensuring that maternity services also come back to the private hospital.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
All right, minister, I know your Presfatile really appreciate you
having a chat with us this morning, and apologies for
those tech issues.
Joining us on the line is the Minister for Health,
Steve Edgington. Good morning to your minister.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning Cody, and good morning to all the listeners
up there in Darwen.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Now, Minister, is that code yellow still in place at
the moment for Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional Hospitals.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yes, it is, Cody, the code yellow is still in place.
I received an update from the department last night. So
there still is some bed block or access to beds
there at the Royal Daren Hospital and what we're seeing
is still still a number of patients in the ED
that are waiting for treatment at the moment.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
So how serious is this capacity issue right now? I
know that earlier in the week the Health Department had said,
you know, the main reason behind this is the fact
that we've got age care patients in beds that should
actually be in an age care facility. I mean, this
is something we've been talking about since Natasha Files was
the Health Minister, possibly even longer. But just first off,
(00:58):
how serious is this capacity issue?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, when it comes to capacity, Katie, what we do
know is that as of a couple of days ago,
there was around forty four age care patients in the
Royal dar owned hospital. So that's forty four beds that
could be used for acute care patients. The issue is
that what we want to see in the federal government
have finally announced a process for the sixty million dollar
(01:26):
commitment to build an age care facility. We want to
see age care patients in proper care facilities and families
deserve that. So we're really keen for the federal government
to move ahead with this process as quickly as possible.
But in the meantime, what we are doing, Katie, is
we are busy building a new ward up there in Darwin.
(01:48):
So the new ward will consist of around about thirty
new beds and we're also building the new mental health
care facility up there as well.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
So look over me, when is that new ward going
to be operational?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So the new ward, we're expecting that new war should
be operational by midyear next year, so it's going to
be thirty two beds. It's being built alongside the emergency
as we speak.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Look, that is good news, I think welcome news to
a lot of listeners this morning. In the meantime, with
those forty four aged care patients, you know they need
those beads. We know that they need those beds, but
what juggling is being done by the department and by
those working in our hospitals, you know, to manage the
situation that they're currently in. And I know this has
(02:38):
been a juggle for many years.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well certainly, and I want to commend all of the staff, Katie,
because I know from management down to our nurses and
doctors working on the floor there in Darwin at the moment,
they're extremely busy, but they're doing their absolute best to
ensure that there's a proper flow of patients through that
emergency area, trying to juggle and putting a priority on
(03:06):
the clinical making those clinical assessments of the number of
people that are sitting in ED. That's a priority for
our staff on the ground. So they're doing all the
hard yards at the moment and they should be commended
for the work that they're doing. But trying to juggle
access to beds at the moment is very difficult. We
really need that age care for somebody built asap, and.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Labor claims that the COLP scrapped funding that was allocated
towards planning for that age care center. Has the CLP
pushed the project backwards for the age care center.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
No, we've never scrapped any funding, Katie, and I think
this is just another diversionary tactic from the federal government
because to suggest that we've ripped any money out of
the budget. What we've always said, Katie, right from the
word go, is that not only will we make land
available at Parmesan on the possible Parmesan Hospital grounds, will
(04:01):
commit twelve million dollars to do the headworks that are
necessary for that construction to go ahead. We're ready, we're
just waiting for the federal government to now complete the process.
And you've got to look back that election commitment was
made back in April. We haven't seen a new age
care bed built by the federal government since twenty nineteen
in dah and so this has been a five nearly
(04:22):
six year gap between any increase in age care beds
in Darh and so we're really encouraging the Age Care
sorry the federal government to get on with the job
and build it as soon as possible because we want
to see age care patients in proper facilities. They deserve it.
Families want age care patients in facilities where they're being
(04:42):
cared for it properly. The hospital is not the appropriate
place for a agecare person.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
No, I don't think you'll get many people disagree with that,
and I think that it needs to happen. It needed
to happen, you know, years ago. But I want to
move along because we know that. Over the weekend there
was a forum that was held. We talked about concerns
when it comes to maternity services, the Our Birth, Our
Voice forum, highlighting many families in the Northern Territory are
(05:09):
choosing to relocate interstate for maternity care. What immediate actions
is the department taking not only to stop people leaving,
but to provide that continuity of care that women are
really calling for.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Look, the immediate action we're taking is that we've just
recently spent around about three hundred thousand on the really
some cosmetic changes in the maternity But look, we want
to ensure that we have a choice for families here
in Darwin and that the issue at the moment is
that we do know that healthscopes and administration. But what
we have done is we've had communication with the federal government.
(05:50):
We've also had communication with the receivers that the administrators
that are looking at the possibility of new buyers of
the private hospital in Darwin. So we've kept in close
contact with them and what we want to do is
be in a position that when a new.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Oh we seem to have lost the minister. Hoping that
I have got the Minister on the line, Steve Edgington,
I do apologize for our tech issues.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Can you hear me, Katie? I wasn't sure there was
your end or it.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I know. Well, look, while I've still got your couple
of really quick ones, because I know you pressed for
time and I appreciate you staying on hold. We know
the Forum heard on the weekend that NTY Health funding
that request from the Commonwealth. You guys requested thirty five
million dollars when it comes to maternity services. It was
revealed that it may not be that much. How much
(06:39):
is it going to be from your understanding?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Look, we've always asked for thirty five million, and I've
been corresponding with the Federal Minister, Mark Butler, and we've
had some good discussions about this. But the latest update
in regard to the funding is that the federal government
has suggested that an offer of around ten million dollars
would be more in line with the Tasmania and New
(07:04):
South Wales. So at the moment, I'm just waiting to
hear back from the Federal Minister around where we go,
whether it's the thirty five or the ten million, but
it's looking more likely to be a ten million dollar package.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Ten million dollars. I mean, are you disappointed? That's twenty
five million dollars less than what you'd requested.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Catie, Look, I'm extremely disappointed because we want to make
sure that our maternity ward meets the very highest standards
so that families have the very best birthing experience. But
look at the moment when it comes to funding right
across the Northern Territory. At the moment, what we do
know is that we're already two hundred million dollars short
(07:44):
per year with the National Health Agreement, but also we're
about one hundred and eighty six million short when it
comes to other funding. As I said before, it's costing
US forty million to look after age care patients, which
we like to do, but it's a federal responsibility. It's
costing US over fifty million dollars a year to provide
a care flight patient retrieval service. And we're also we're
(08:08):
putting ninety five million dollars into primary healthcare, which again
is a federal responsibility. So we're already four hundred million
dollars a year short. We're hoping to get the best possible.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Outcome, Minister, just really quickly before I let you go,
I mean with only. I'm hesitant to say only, because
ten million dollars is still a heck of a lot
of money. But with ten million dollars rather than thirty five,
what are you actually going to be able to deliver?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
So with the ten million dollars, look, there'll be some
very minor capital works, and what we want to do
is improve the rooms where mothers are giving birth. We
want to ensure that there's a proper facilities where there's
not only a refurbishment of some of the rooms, but
an expansion and hopefully some additional rooms. But that's unlikely
(08:57):
with ten million dollars. It'll be mainly a reefer ibishment
of the maternity ward at rolled onn.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
I know that's going to be so disappointing for people
to hear this morning, and I don't want to sound
ungrateful to the federal government, But ten million dollars and
when you look at what that's going to do comparatively
to what we need, seems like a bit of a
kick in the guts.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Well, it is disappointing. So the maternity ward is Look,
it's a very aged facility, so any upgrade is very
important because we're talking about years and years of no
upgrades being done in that particular space. So ten million dollars, Look,
we would love to get the thirty five million dollars
(09:38):
because we want to make sure that mothers have the
very best of birthing experience. But we are hopeful that
once a buyer for the private hospital is identified, we
can get to the table has some serious conversations about
ensuring that maternity services also come back to the private hospital.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
All right, minister, I know your Presfatile really appreciate you
having a chat with us this morning, and apologies for
those tech issues.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.