Northern Territory health authorities say its hospitals have enough backup medical supplies to last a few days without affecting patient care — before more supplies are due to arrive — after a huge fire tore through a supply warehouse in Darwin.
The warehouse in the suburb of Berrimah was filled with critical daily supplies for hospitals across the Top End, including emergency medical equipment, disposable sheets for surgeries, gloves and plaster.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the impact of Sunday's fire would be "significant".
"To both our system and also the cost, but all of that is too early to tell the total figures," she said.
Fire and emergency services said on Sunday the fire caused about $30 million worth of damage to property and supplies, but Ms Fyles today said that figure was still being substantiated.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Firefighters remained at the scene on Monday morning, as it continued to smoulder.
Ms Fyles said emergency contingencies had been rolled out to minimise any disruption to services.
"We're now working through what supplies we have in other warehouses, what supplies we have within our hospitals," Ms Fyles said.
"So it might be that we have some supplies we can shift to different locations – all of that's being worked through."
An "Code Brown" alert is in place across the hospital network, which is an emergency system triggered by external events, from transport incidents to full-blown natural catastrophes.
Acting executive lead for Royal Darwin Hospital, Kylee St George, said the hospital network had a backup of "three days worth of stock and supplies" which would allow hospitals to continue operating as normal until Wednesday, when the next delivery of supplies is due to arrive.
"That's what everyone is working through, to make sure we have the time and the capacity to move resources around the NT, and pull in anything additional that we think we might need," she said.
However, Australian Medical Association NT president Robert Parker said replacing the lost stock – which he called a "major blow" – could be more difficult than expected, with supplies already under pressure across the country as well as internationally.
He said if the equipment took longer to arrive, "adjustments" such as postponing elective surgeries could be needed to conserve resources.
"If they've actually lost $30 million worth of stock that's a significant hit, and you have to wonder … whether they're really able to replenish as quickly as they'd like to, given the current pressures on supply chains both in Australia and overseas," Mr Parker said.
Ms Fyles said NT Health didn't anticipate any obstacles to securing extra supplies at this stage.
"I haven't had information that would suggest that, but that's what we'll work through over the coming days, if there was certain specialised equipment that may take a little longer," she said.
"NT Health participates in national forums and meetings around supply chains and supplies of products, so if we do need to lean into the other states and territories I'm confident that they will support us."
Ms St George said health teams "don't anticipate" having to delay or cancel any elective surgeries.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the building destroyed had been leased to the NT Government about four years ago, and that its occupancy certificate was up to date.
Earlier this month, the NT ICAC Commissioner revealed more than 300 government buildings across the NT did not have valid occupancy certificates in place, including Royal Darwin Hospital.
