20 November 2018
Royal Hobart Hospital Reaches Crisis Point as Nurses Call for Government Funding
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) are calling on the Tasmanian Government to fund Stage 2 of the Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment immediately after the recent internal disaster (code yellow) that was called at the Royal Hobart Hospital today.
This code yellow was the result of a plumbing incident that saw a foul smell causing the closure of 16 beds in the emergency department. It highlights the need for the Tasmanian Government to release funds to ensure that the second stage of the Royal Hobart Hospital development can be commenced immediately after patients are moved into the new K-Block.
“Aging infrastructure at the Royal Hobart Hospital has again had a substantial impact on the daily operations and patient care at the Royal Hobart Hospital,” said ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd.
“During the first stage of the redevelopment project, we have seen a number of issues including the deteriorating facade on A-Block, poor air-condition leading to extreme heat on some wards, corridors closed off hampering patient transport, and rainwater leaks in the A-Block.”
The ANMF are currently involved in the reference group responsible for providing options to the Tasmanian Health Service Executive for the masterplan of the Stage 2 Redevelopment. This group is doing productive work in deciding how to meet the health needs of the Tasmanian public moving forward. However, at this point in time the group is working towards a plan that will be implemented if, and when, the Tasmanian government makes funding available.
“ANMF members at the Royal Hobart Hospital welcome the upcoming completion of the new K-Block in late 2019. However, this will leave a number of wards, including the emergency department, remaining in aging infrastructure,” said Ms Shepherd
“We are working collaboratively with the Tasmanian Health Service and Department of Health to ensure the next stage of the re-development will meet the public’s needs, but the Tasmanian Government need to guarantee funding of this plan to ensure that the community have access to a state of the art facility that will meet demands into the future.”
The ANMF will be providing a budget submission to the Tasmanian Government in early December and will be requesting that the 2019-2020 forward estimates include adequate funding to meet the final recommendations put to the Tasmanian Health Service Executive on completion of the Stage 2 Redevelopment project.
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Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au