A leaked report reveals governance failures in St John NT.

The Northern Territory government is reassessing its ambulance service contract after an independent review exposed poor clinical decision-making that “may have resulted in the deaths of patients” and placed staff at “significant risk”. 

The confidential report, commissioned by NT Health and obtained by the ABC, outlines systemic failures in governance and culture within the private service.  

The report, authored by Dr Craig Ellis, reportedly recommends suspending high-acuity, low-occurrence (HALO) procedures until senior oversight is implemented. 

These critical surgical interventions were flagged for poor decision-making. 

It also highlighted a “near-complete breakdown in trust” between St John NT and emergency departments in Darwin and Alice Springs.  

The dismissal of Chief Medical Officer Dr Tom Quigley after introducing HALO training worsened organisational risks, with the report stating his removal exposed staff and patients to “unacceptably high” hazards. 

A culture of distrust within the service was also cited, with staff reluctant to speak out due to fear of litigation.  

Dr Ellis called for an end to using police for transporting intoxicated or unwell Aboriginal patients, stating these situations require medical - not law enforcement - responses.

The United Workers Union, representing paramedics, has repeated its long-standing demand for the service to be de-privatised. 

Secretary Erina Early has described the service as “in crisis” and called for government control, noting high levels of paramedic fatigue, violence, and mental health challenges.  

Paramedics have described feelings of failure due to inadequate governance and delayed responses. 

Rising attacks on staff, with 117 incidents this year, have compounded these challenges.  

The NT Government says a comprehensive review of ambulance services is underway. Health Minister Steve Edgington has declined to say if St John NT’s contract, due to expire in 2026, would be renewed or if the service would be de-privatised.  

St John NT CEO Andrew Tombs said the organisation had already addressed many concerns before the report’s completion. He noted that resource constraints were among the factors contributing to the issues identified.  

The service received $47.2 million funding for 2024-25, with an additional $10 million allocated for demand pressures. 

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