Statement on Royal Darwin Hospital Capacity Management – Code Yellow 17 February

NT Government

A Code Yellow has been called for the Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals (RDPH) due to a peak in hospital capacity as a result of both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related demand.

The current infection prevention and control measures to manage and isolate COVID-19 positive patients at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) has exacerbated capacity issues.

A Code Yellow enacts a number of practices and will allow the hospital to closely manage the situation and implement measures to ease pressures on the hospital system.

Patient safety is a priority and the dedicated staff at RDH work hard to ensure Territorians continue to receive the best patient-centred care possible.

We urge people who have non-emergency health needs to see their GP as soon as they become sick to try to avoid becoming acutely unwell and needing hospital attendance. This helps us care for those who most need a hospital bed.

We thank our hard working staff and the community for supporting us during these challenging times and appreciate your understanding and patience.

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