With the Northern Territory election now just nine days away, physician Dr Kirsty Neal has prepared a prescription for the incoming government, on how to make a real difference for the health and wellbeing of Territorians.
Kirsty Neal writes:
As a physician, a specialist doctor who cares for the sickest people in hospital, I took the Hippocratic oath to do no harm and put my patient’s interest above all else.
I have been taught and trained to know the facts, to assess and consider relative risks, and to make decisions I believe will provide the best care for my patients.
As we approach the Northern Territory election on 24 August, I ask that all parties do the same: put the health and wellbeing of Territorians first, and ensure that planning and decision making is made in their best interests.
The NT health system is world class and staffed by dedicated and hardworking clinicians.
But rising demand, chronic workforce shortages, burnout, and climate change are putting strain on the system. Ultimately we fear this will affect people’s ability to access quality healthcare.
The health and wellbeing of children – especially First Nations children – is already suffering because of a lack of access to early childhood services and a youth justice system that is not health-focussed.
And climate change and extreme weather events, which are becoming more and more frequent, have harsh effects in the Territory. Not only are people exposed to increasingly high temperatures and heat stress, climate change brings risks of food and water shortages, which are key challenges given the geography and demography of the Territory.
Three treatment options
So I’d like to offer the next NT Government some treatment options, which my colleagues at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and I believe will provide the best health outcomes.
1. Improve the drivers of good health
This means taking tackling climate change, improving access to early childhood education where children and families can access wrap-around health services right from the early years, and having a health-focused approach to youth justice reform.
Over time, these measures will help improve the health of all Territorians. In short, we need a focus on prevention and a commitment to invest not just in the NT health system but in broader social determinants of good health, like quality housing and effective education systems.
The RACP has a long-standing commitment to improving First Nations peoples’ health and wellbeing.
We know First Nations children are under-represented in the early learning system and overrepresented in the criminal justice system here in the Territory. To truly close the gap, we have to reform these systems, which are huge drivers of health inequities.
2. Support the healthcare workforce to meet growing healthcare needs
Every Territorian knows the NT is experiencing prolonged healthcare workforce shortages across many health professions and specialities.
The government in office after the election should invest in tailored solutions to boost the number of physicians in specialities with low numbers, and support quality continuing professional development and high-quality training, all aimed at making sure the NT physician workforce meets population growth and community needs.
We should be supporting physicians in practical ways and collaborating with employers and medical colleges to make training programs as attractive and competitive as possible.
Supporting and developing the medical workforce, particularly in regional, rural and remote communities, will address health inequities and alleviate the workforce pressures that lead to strained services and worker burnout.
3. Foster a culture of health and wellbeing
There is a need for the Territory Government to work with the RACP to actively shape a healthier workplace culture for physicians and trainees.
The Territory Government should invest in the workforce and support all aspects of physician and trainee work, which should take into consideration the needs of physicians’ family and caring responsibilities. Healthier doctors means healthier patients and better patient outcomes, as well as more stability in the system and greater longevity of service in the NT.
There is a clear link between healthy work arrangements and practices for physicians (and doctors training to be physicians) and positive outcomes for patients. Building a culture of wellbeing in our hospitals and health system will help with physician retention in the long run.
All states and territories have workforce shortages. The NT needs to offer more than professionally rewarding work and a lifestyle we all know and love – it needs to build a health system in which wellbeing is valued and flexible work arrangements are the norm.
If I were writing a prescription for the incoming NT Government, that’s what it would look like.
To know the best course of action in healthcare, one must understand the underlying causes of the symptoms that the patient is presenting. In this case our patients are ultimately Territorians who interact with our healthcare system.
We must treat a complex set of issues, which means collaborating across different disciplines and departments to ensure the best health outcomes possible.
I can say with confidence that each decision I make about my patients’ health is made in their best interest.
I hope the next NT Government will do the same when the time comes to make decisions about the health of Territorians.
• Dr Kirsty Neal is a General Medicine and Endocrine Specialist and a member of the RACP’s NT Committee. You can read the RACP NT Election Statement here.
More reading on the NT election
Experts call for the end of “tough on crime” electioneering, by Alison Barrett
Next Northern Territory Government must invest in community safety and the community services sector, by Sally Sievers
Why the climate health crisis should be front of mind for the Northern Territory election, by Alison Barrett
Next Northern Territory Government must ensure new housing commitments have solid foundations, by Peter McMillan
Thanks Kirsty – well said