Department of Health Library Services ePublications - Historical Collection

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Department of Health Library Services ePublications - Historical Collection

Please Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this publication may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or printed material.

Purpose

To apply preservation treatments, including digitisation, to a high value and vulnerable Historical collection of items held in the Darwin and Alice Springs libraries so that the items may be accessed without causing further damage to the original items and provide accessibility for stakeholders.

Reference and Research Disclaimer

Please note: this document is part of the Historical Collection and the information contained within may be out of date.

This copy is a reproduction of an original record. Please note that the quality of the original record may be poor and cannot be enhanced with the scanning process.

Northern Territory Department of Health Library Services Historical Collection

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TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL

MANAGEMENT BOARD

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1983

TO

THE HONOURABLE

MINISTER FOR HEALTH

CENTRAL LIBRARY

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TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD

All correspondence to; O\airman

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Tennant Creek Hospital Managerrent Board P.O. Dax 346

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TENNANT OUill<. N.T. 5760

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The Hon. N. Dondas M.L.A., Minister for Health

P.O. Box 3146,

DARWIN, N.T. 5794

My Dear Minister,

In accordance with the prov1.s1.ons of the "Hospital Management Board's Act, 1980¹¹^, on behalf of the Tennant Creek Hospital Management Board, I have the honour of submitting to you its Annual Report for year 1983.

Yours sincerely,

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KAY M. ROSE CHAIRMAN

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APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

Mrs. Kay M. Rose

Mr. David Sharp

Mr. Frederick Kittle O.A.M.

Mrs. Christine Afianos

Mr. Geoffrey Niethe

RETIRED OR RESIGNED MEMBERS FOR YEAR

Mrs. Molly Courts

Mr. Tony Van Hooff

DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES

Ms. Yvonne Ellis

Matron Rosemarie Adams

Dr. Martyn Griffiths

Dr. K. Kirke

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Retired

Resigned

A/G Chief Executive Officer Tennant Creek Hospital

A/G Medical Superintendent

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Director

Alice Springs & Barkly Region

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INTRODUCTION

Hospital Management Boards are now in the fourth year of operation in Northern Territory Hospitals, and are becoming more confident in the role.

This year, 1983, has seen the Tennant Creek Hospital Board lose two members, MRS. MOLLY COURTS and MR. TONY VAN HOOFF. They were replaced by MRS. AFIANOS and DR. G. NIETHE.

It has been a year when the user-pays system has been replaced by Medicare - causing again, confusion among the Community.

It has been a year of favourable financial trading and the

Board acknowledges the care taken to contain costs and eliminate areas of waste. Particular attention has been taken in the area of energy efficiency.

It was the last year as part of a combined Alice Springs and Barkly Region, and the first of the new Barkly Region.

STAFFING

Generally, the staffing levels for trained Sisters and Enrolled Nurses has been satisfactory - although constant recruitment is required to maintain levels.

Staffing for Medical (Doctor) positions, has, however, been

most unsatisfactory. When the position of Medical Superintendent was vacated in December, 1983, all recruitment activity failed to fill the position from within Australia. A position was offered to a doctor with the appropriate skills, residen~ in United Kingdom. Due to unwieldy immigration requirements and delays, this doctor finally took up the position of Acting

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Medical Superintendent of the Tennant Creek Hospital in August, 1984.

Steps must be taken at a Federal level to ensure quicker processing of professional persons, whose qualifications are acceptable in

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Australia, if we are to keep the smaller, more remote hospitals staffed adequately.

The Board acknowledges the assistance of Regional Director, Dr. K. Kirke in keeping our hospital staffed with doctors from Alice Springs on a rotating basis. As an emergency measure, we accept the inevitability of this - as a permanent answer to filling the needs of Tennant Creek and the Barkly Region, we reject the concept. Lack of continuity in senior positions leads to feelings of insecurity among patients, staff and the Community at large.

Although the Secretary of Health officially reduced the authorized bed numbers for the hospital from 24 to 20 - no reduction in staff members was made.

See Appendix "A" for staffing members.

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS

Structurally, the Tennant Creek Hospital is a pleasant and well maintained building.

Representations to the Tennant Creek Town Council resulted in concrete paving being laid on the entire eastern frontage, up to and including the Nursing Home and Creche. This makes a more servicable, practical and attractive footpath.

One of the older Hospital residences was transferred to the Tennant Creek Nursing Home.

With the establishment of a new Barkly Region, an executive-style residence has been requested, off campus, to house the Regional Director, when appointed.

Grounds are well maintained, and received a favourable comment in recent Tidy-Towns Competition judging.

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NEEDS SURVEY

A postal survey was conducted within the Barkly Region, requesting information on services required. Generally, the response from

Stations and Settlements outside the town area reflected satisfaction with services available from the Tennant Creek Hospital.

Responses from within the town stressed again, the need for more stability in the medical staff (2 year terms seemed to be the most often expressed minimum stay desirable).

The wish for a Physiotherapist was expressed - especially to service the patients of the Nursing Horne.

The Chairman spoke at a Rotary Club meeting, in support of the survey, and valuable feed-back resulted.

HOSPITAL INFORMATION BOOKLET

See Appendix "B".

A Hospital Information Booklet was published in June, 1984, in response to a perceived need. This Booklet has been distributed through the Barkly Region, and has been most favourably received.

ANNUAL MEETING OF HOSPITAL CHAIRMEN

Tennant Creek hosted the third Annual Meeting of Hospital Board

Chairmen of Northern Territory, in April, 1984. Hospitals represented were ALICE SPRINGS, ROYAL DARWIN, GOVE, KATHERINE and TENNANT CREEK.

The Meeting was opened by the Minister and gave attending members the opportunity to air both grievances and successes. These meetings provide a valuable forum for lay-people to compare both hospitals and hospital managements.

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ESTABLISHMENT OF BARKLY REGION

In its 1982 Annual Report the Board voiced the need for a separate Region, to service the Barkly Community, and bring under an

umbrella organization, all Health Related services. This region should have Tennant Creek as i t ' s Centre, and be known as the Barkly Region.

The establishment of the Barkly Region was made effective from July 1, 1984.

The Board sees this as a positive step towards more efficient use of man-power in the Region, and a commitment to the future of Tennant Creek as a Regional Centre for the Barkly.

The position of Regional Director is yet to be filled.

The Board expresses its appreciation of time and input into final staffing structure recommended by Ms. Y. Ellis, Chief Executive Officer of Tennant Creek Hospital and Dr. K. Kirke, Regional Director, Alice Springs Hospital.

Inherent with the new structure, must go rigorous and exte~sive inservice training of most departmental senior staff, within and without the Hospital. We appreciate the extra burden this will put on staff, but see i t as desirable, indeed necessary if Regionalization of Health services is to be fully effective.

ANNUAL INSPECTION

In accordance with the Act, the Annual Inspection was undertaken

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with Dr. J. Quinn in June, 1984.

We are pleased to note the acceptance by the Minister of a motion put at the Annual Meeting of Chairmen, that a quorum (for Hospital Inspections only) be three persons.

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ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

The Board has received complaints from the Community regarding St. John Ambulance. Chiefly, that calls made during the weekend and evenings are re-directed to Alice Springs. This results in confusion and perhaps unnecessary delays.

Meetings with St. John Ambulance pers'onnel have failed to change this system.

While the Board recognizes that the St. John Ambulance Service is outside the area of i t ' s responsibility, the Community of Tennant Creek has tended to see the Hospital Board as the representative of the Northern Territory Department of Health.

When the Director of Barkly Region position is filled, we see this problem being overcome.

TENNANT CREEK NURSING HOME

The Hospital has continued to provide a maintenance/meal/laundry service to the Nursing Home.

The Board has a representative (Mrs. C. Afianos) on the Board of Management of the Nursing Horne.

MEALS ON WHEELS

Meals for this service are provided by the Hospital Kitchen.

The service is co-ordinated in Tennant Creek by the Town Council.

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EVACUATIONS

All evacuations by air have gone smoothly. The Board is pleased with the manner in which the current preferred contractor performs this service, but note, however, that larger aircraft would allow the

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patient and accompanying staff, more comfort and space for additional equipment.

VISITING SPECIALISTS

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The programme of visiting Specialists has continued. With the exception of a delay in Eye Speci~list services early in the year, i t has gone smoothly.

Time-tabling of visits so that no more than two Specialists arrive on any one particular day is important.

PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS

Private General Practice services have been trialed, with a doctor flying from Alice Springs once a fortnight.

Due to lack of support from the Tennant Creek Community, this services has been cancelled.

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APPENDIX 'A'

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HOSPITAL ESTABLISHMENT

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MEDICAL OFFICERS 3

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ADMINISTRATION 7

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PARAMEDICAL 5

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INDUSTRIAL 20

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MAINTENANCE 5

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APPRENTICE 1

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TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL

OUTPATIENT & INPATIENT

INFORMATION

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TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL

OUTPATIENT AND INPATIENT INFORMATION

Published June 1984

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Accident and Emergency Services (Casualty}

Alcohol and Other Drugs Appointments System

Commonwealth Medical Officer Examinations Diagnostic Services

Foot Clinics

Information, Advice and Counselling Inpatient Definition

Isolated Patients' Travel Accommodation and Assistance Scheme

Leaving Hospital Premises Medical Certificates Obstetric Patients Outpatient Definition Parking

Patient Identification Smoking

Tennant Creek Hospital Management Board Visiting Hours

Visiting Specialists

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OUTPATIENT DEFINITION

An outpatient is a person who attends a hospital for treatment or investigation provided by the hospital, but is not admitted. Outpatient categories include ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY (CASUALTY) .

ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (CASUALTY)

Hospitals provide immediate attention to URGENT cases on arrival. A medical practitioner is available within a reasonable time during hours and AFTER HOURS.

Priority is given to those patients having the most urgent medical need. In normal circumstances, each patient will be triaged by a registered nurse on arrival to determine medical priority when a patient claims to be an emergency, but when the assessing nurse disagrees, the patient is offered a medical assessment as soon as possible, by the doctor rostered on duty or on call.

APPOINTMENTS SYSTEM

An appointment system operates at the Tennant Creek Hospital.

If you, as a patient, need to see a doctor immediately, you will be advised that you may present to the hospital as a CASUALTY patient. Further, you will be advised of the most practicable time to present.

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

Pathology and radiology services are provided at the Tennant Creek Hospital. Certain diagnostic tests performed are sent to the Alice Springs Hospital for diagnosis by relevant specialists.

COMMONWEALTH MEDICAL OFFICER EXAMINATIONS

Commonwealth Medical Officer examinations are free.

VISITING SPECIALISTS

An appointment system operates for Visiting Specialists.

Specialist clinics approved by the Secretary for Heal th are provided with attendances on referral and by appointment only.

The Tennant Creek Hospital attracts the services of the following Specialists.

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Ear, Nose and Throat Eye

Surgeon

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Gynaecology

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Paediatrics

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^Dietitian

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Pathologist

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Physiotherapist

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^Physician

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Psychologist FOOT CLINICS

The Foot Clinic operates weekly on a Monday afternoon.

ISOLATED PATIENTS' TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION AND ASSISTANCE SCHEME The Isolated Patients' Travel Acconunodation Assistance Scheme provides financial help to people in rural areas who need to TRAVEL MORE THAN 200 KILOMETRES FROM THEIR HOME, TO OBTAIN RECOGNISED SPECIALIST MEDICAL TREATMENT OR SERVICES, OR APPROVED SPEC IALI S.T ORAL SURGERY.

IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ANY MATTER CONCERNING THE SCHEME PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT EITHER THE:

Tennant Creek Hospital Travel Clerk located in the Administration Block (Telephone 62 2202 ext 250)

or

IPTAAS Section of the Commonwealth Department of Health in Darwin

(Telephqne 80 2852)

In the circumstances of a patient experiencing "hardship" or

"financial difficulty" you are invited to contact either the:

MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT or

HOSPITAL SECRETARY

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INPATIENT DEFINITION

An Inpatient is a person who has been admitted to Hospital.

Booked admission patients are required to provide their own:

* nightdress or pyjamas

* dressing gown or brunch coat

* slippers

* toilet requisites - washers, soap, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, talc, deodorant, shaving gear

ANYTHING YOU DO NOT NEED, PARTICULARLY VALUABLES, MONEY, JEWELLERY, SHOULD BE LEFT AT HOME. If these must be brought with you please inform NURSING STAFF on your arrival.

Arrangements will be made for the safekeeping of your property by the Hospitai. The Hospital does not accept responsibility for money or valuables not placed .in safe custody.

OBSTETRIC PATIENTS

Requirements for mothers and babies are:

Mothers:

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nightdresses - front opening

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bras - maternity if possible

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sanitary belt

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Modess or Kotex

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dressing gown or brunch coat

* slippers

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toilet requisites Babies:

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^booties

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^mittens

If at any time during pregnancy you feel that labour has commenced or all is not well, or ·have any bleeding, you are requested to come to the Hospital for advice.

PATIENT IDENTIFICATION

An important factor in patient identification is

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plastic bracelet which will be placed on your wrist after admission.

This must be worn during the whole of your stay in hospital.

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LEAVING HOSPITAL PREMISES

You must remain within the Hospital premises until you are discharged, unless special arrangements are made with the Sister in Charge of the Ward. ONLY THE DOCTOR MAY DISCHARGE A PATIENT.

GENERAL INFORMATION PARKING

There is a public car park in front of the main exit doors and on the side of the Casualty Department. There is no provision for you to park your vehicle in Hospital grounds for the period of your hospitalization.

ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS

Alcoholic drinks and other drugs are NOT to be brought into HOSPITAL. Visitors are particularly requested to observe this rule as any breach could have serious consequences for the patient. Alcoholic drinks will be confiscated.

SMOKING

For the benefit of patients and in the interest of Public Heal th, SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED in Hospital Corridors, or where patients are waiting or being treated. An Outpatient area set aside for SMOKING is located at the entrance to Outpatients Department. Visitors and patients are asked to assist staff in maintaining clean unpolluted air.

MEDICAL CERTIFICATES

If a medical certificate is required for the period of treatment in Hospital, you are requested to advise your doctor of this requirement well before discharge.

VISITING HOURS

Normal visiting hours for Medical and Maternity Wards are:

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2.00 pm - 4.00 pm 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm

Visitors will be expected to leave the Ward while you receive treatment or for a doctor's visit.

At the discretion of the Sister in Charge visitors may be admitted at times other than those listed. The Hospital administration reserves the right to remove visitors who are disturbing patients or staff.

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Visitors are expected to be clean and reasonably dressed for hygienic reasons, footwear and a shirt or top of some kind should be worn.

The Hospital encourages parents to stay with young children who are hospitalized. Parents of older children are welcome to visit at reasonable times.

INFORMATION, ADVICE AND COUNSELLING

You may feel justifiably anxious that in the midst of the busy activity of the Hospital you (and your relatives) are left insufficiently informed about what is wrong with you, what is being considered or intended as treatment, what is the likely future outcome of the illness or condition, and how you may obtain special help for social problems.

IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED FURTHER HELP OR IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS YOU MAY ASK THE SISTER-IN-CHARGE OF THE WARD FOR ASSISTANCE.

TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBERS

Each Hospital has a Hospital Management Board consisting of five persons appointed by the Minister and three departmental officers.

The members of the Tennant Creek Hospital Management Board are:

MRS K. ROSE CHAIRPERSON TELEPHONE 62 2459 B/H 62 2459 A/H MR D. SHARP DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON TELEPHONE 62 2801 B/H 62 2755 A/H MR F. KITI'LE MEMBER TELEPHONE 62 2010 B/H 62 2010 A/H MRS C. AFIANOS MEMBER TELEPHONE 62 2281 B/H 62 2129 A/H MR T. VAN HOOFF MEMBER TELEPHONE 62 2279 A/H 62 2222 A/H Alternatively, the Chairperson and members may be collectively contacted by corresponding to:

The Secretary Tennant Creek Tennant Creek PO Box 346 TENNANT CREEK

Hospital Management Board Hospital

NT 5760

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The functions of the Board include:

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to fix and supervise the standards of service provided by or through the hospital,

to co-ordinate the use of resources in the hospital, to maintain liaison with other pesons or bodies in the area served by the Hospital,

to make recommendations to the Minister on any matter relating to the operation of the hospital including the needs of the hospital · in relation to its future development.

Whether you are an Inpatient, Outpatient or concerned citizen, if you have any hospital enquiries you are invited to contact the Tennant Creek Hospital Management Board members or the Medical Superintendent, Matron or Hospital Secretary.

Department of Health Library Services ePublications - Historical Collection