The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM; the College) expresses concern at reports of Northern Territory (NT) Government plans for the large-scale removal of hospital department heads and senior NT Health leaders, without consultation.
The Territory’s healthcare system is continuing to come under sustained pressure as a result of ongoing high rates of flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, as it also contends with longstanding systemic issues which have been exacerbated by the past two-and-a-half years of pandemic.
The College cautions the NT Government against rushing into sudden and drastic changes which may result in significant disruption to an already struggling hospital and healthcare system, as well as the significant loss of expertise.
We emphasise the importance of ensuring any restructure which may affect the standard of healthcare provided to the NT community must be carried out in genuine consultation with, and genuinely reflect the views of, healthcare consumers.
It is also crucial to ensure that the views and expertise of frontline healthcare workers are taken into account and represented at the highest levels of governance structures.
