Health Staff Shortages Cause Medical Clinic Closures in the Northern Territory, Australia

Northern Territory Health Minister Natasha Fyles speaks to the media during a press conference outside Parliament in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia on Apr. 9, 2021. AAP Image/Aaron Bunch

Just as the Northern Territory borders open and cases of COVID-19 grow to 123, a number of Territory clinics will be closing down for the Christmas holiday period.

In a social media post on Monday evening, Country Liberal Party (CLP) Shadow Health Minister Bill Yan said that “ongoing staff shortages and crippling pressure on the Territory’s health system” is negatively impacting Territorians in remote areas and that some clinics are closing their doors for the Christmas holidays.