Katherine Hospital re-opens to provide critical care to the community 

15 March 2025

• Katherine Hospital will re-open today as the Finocchiaro CLP Government continues to assist the residents of Katherine during the flood emergency.

• The Katherine Hospital will be re-open in a staged approach to ensure patient safety, while managing staffing and clinical care.

• Patients evacuated from Katherine Hospital and relocated to Royal Darwin Hospital will be transferred over the coming week.

Katherine Hospital has reopened today as the Finocchiaro CLP Government continues to assist the residents of Katherine during the flood emergency.

Minister for Health, Steve Edgington said work, health and safety inspections had occurred and the hospital was now safe to re-open in a staged approach. 

“This is a significant event. Only in exceptional circumstances do you evacuate a hospital,” he said.

“Our people at NT Health and Katherine Hospital have done an amazing job to get this facility back up and operating.”

“Hospitals provide not only essential medical care but are vital for community well-being and safety.”

The Katherine Hospital will be re-opened in a staged approach to ensure patient safety, while managing staffing and clinical care.

The Emergency Department at Katherine Hospital is open. The temporary Emergency Department established at the St John Ambulance headquarters has closed and all patients have been transferred. 

The Katherine Hospital maternity ward is open. If you are requiring antenatal care or your labour commences, and you are in Katherine, please contact the hospital to talk with our midwives. Pregnant women who were evacuated to Darwin during the flood event will be contacted by Katherine Hospital midwives to discuss your plan of care.

The Jack Rooney general medicine ward for patient care is open, initially with a limited bed capacity. The operating theatres are open for all emergency procedures, while the medical day stay unit will recommence care from Monday. The team will contact patients to discuss their planned treatments.  

Specialist outpatient appointments and elective surgery that was scheduled during the flood event and for the week commencing 16 March 2026 has been cancelled and will be rescheduled. The Katherine Hospital team will continue to contact all patients to arrange the rescheduling of these appointments and surgeries. 

Inpatients evacuated from Katherine Hospital and relocated to Royal Darwin Hospital will be transferred over the coming week where clinically appropriate. NT Health will continue to keep patients informed and updated.

Sections of staff accommodation at the Katherine Hospital precinct has been deemed safe for occupation and staff have started returning home. For the staff residing in accommodation at the hospital site that is not yet safe for occupation, the accommodation team will contact them.

While the Katherine Hospital and staff accommodation was not impacted by flood waters, significant work has been done by staff to ensure the facility was safe to re-open. 

“Our people at Katherine Hospital have been outstanding,” Mr Edgington said.

“The work they have done to continue to provide emergency health services during a critical emergency event has been amazing.

“Even while dealing with flood damage to their own homes, Katherine health staff have worked tirelessly to support the emergency response. Their dedication to Territorians during this difficult time is truly commendable.

“At the same time, they have gone above and beyond to get the Katherine Hospital open again as soon as possible.” 

Member for Katherine, Jo Hersey said the reopening of the Katherine Hospital was a huge relief for the community.

“After the disruption caused by the flood, the re-opening of the hospital is an important step in getting the Katherine community back on its feet,” she said.

“Restoring hospital services after the flood has been a priority, because we know how critical health care is for this community.

“I want to thank the Katherine Hospital and St John Ambulance staff who made sure emergency health care was available to the residents of Katherine."

There were 264 presentations to the temporary Emergency Department established during the flood emergency, including 30 medical evacuations to Royal Darwin Hospital so patients could receive vital care. 

About 20 Katherine Hospital staff travelled to Darwin to ensure continuity of care for patients evacuated from the hospital. 

NT Health Regional Executive Director for Big Rivers, Renae Daniel thanked the community for their support, patience and resilience.

“The community spirit and connectedness of Katherine has been truly amazing during this flood event,” she said.

“The evacuation and now, re-opening of Katherine Hospital has been an extraordinary event.”

“I would like to thank all of our staff for their dedication and commitment even through the toughest of times – you are all superstars!” 

Media contact: Russel Guse  – 0488 047 830