The Northern Territory health system has been on a downward trajectory for at least the last 20 years.

The Private Hospital which was once Good has become almost skeletal in terms of its effectiveness and efficiency.

The Royal Darwin Hospital is undone not so much by the age of its facilities nor the dedication of its staff as it is by the impossible behaviours that are tolerated by the establishment and largely directed at the hospital and staff by a particular group – a growing group – of people who is apparent abhorrent and delinquent behaviour are a constant threat not only to staff but to anybody who happens to be in the hospital as a patient.

The issue of behaviour and control of clients is something that neither government has ever been prepared to do anything about. To say that the Health Department in the Northern Territory is anything but a shambles would be a major understatement.

One glimmer of hope is provided by the clinics that operate in some of the suburbs and around the place but even they can be overwhelmed at times and again by the behaviours of attending people. The fact that maternity services for women in the NT have been allowed to decline to such a paultry standard of offering is plain awful.