Newsflash: Mersey Community Hospital ED Further Reduced Opening Hours

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) were advised late yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Tasmanian Government that the opening hours at the Mersey Community Hospital (MCH) Emergency Department (ED) were to be reduced further to opening between 0800 hours and 1800 hours due to the inability to safely staff the medical practitioner’s roster.

It is understood that the reduced opening hours will be in place for three months commencing Monday 24 August 2020 while The Tasmanian Health Service (THS) works to permanently recruit medial staff to the MCH ED.

The ANMF have been provided with assurances that all staff in the MCH ED will continue to have their contracts of employment honoured and that should any requests for re-deployment occur at any stage, appropriate consultation will occur along with any penalties if agreed to proceed by the employee.

The ANMF acknowledge that during the recent period of reduced opening hours at the MCH ED, there has been some clinical care provided to some patients who have presented to the MCH ED that have needed urgent medical care which has been subsequently provided. However, the ANMF understand that this practice is one that has raised significant concern and questions by nursing staff about the resourcing, policy and legal framework that is in place to support this practice both now and into the next three months.

Annette Beechey, ANMF Organiser, will be holding a member meeting in the next couple of days to discuss members’ views to inform feedback from the ANMF to the DHHS and the Tasmanian Government. A meeting notice and message will be sent shortly.

Read the PDF version here.

Updates correct as at 20 August 2020.
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary

ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT

Member Support Team: The ANMF Tasmanian Branch is 8000 plus members strong! Supporting nurses, midwives, and care workers as the only union in Tasmania employing nurses and care workers to represent members. This is why our Organisers and Member Support Team are uniquely positioned to understand your experiences, represent you in your workplace, and offer industrial advice that’s relevant to you. Please contact our Member Support Team if you need workplace support, would like to discuss any matters or raise a concern. Alternatively, you can send an email outlining your concerns to our team - membersupport@anmftas.org.au. Email is the preferred and fastest way of contacting the team, however if your matter is urgent, please phone (03) 6223 6777 or 1800 001 241 if you are outside of Hobart.

Member Support Team

Nurse and Midwife Support If you are seeking confidential support and advice, members have access to 24/7 phone support from Nurse and Midwife Support.

Nurse and Midwife Support

More latests news

Child Health and Parenting Services (CHaPS) Statewide

[siteorigin_widget class="Tribe_Image_Widget"][/siteorigin_widget]Update: Working Group Meeting 12 December 2018 ANMF officials attended the first working group meeting on Thursday 6 December to commence preliminary discussions regarding the progression of a workload model for Child Health and Parenting Services (CHaPS). There will [...]

Launceston General Hospital Renal

[siteorigin_widget class="Tribe_Image_Widget"][/siteorigin_widget]Update: Members Meeting 12 December 2018 The ANMF (Tasmanian Branch) conducted member meetings at both the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) Renal and Kings Meadows clinics to discuss with them the results of the recent re-benchmarking. Members endorsed the re-benchmarking [...]

Launceston General Hospital Operating Room Suite

[siteorigin_widget class="Tribe_Image_Widget"][/siteorigin_widget]Update: Stop Work Meetings 12 December 2018 Members of the ANMF (Tas Branch) commenced their stop work meetings as part of the public sector Retain. Recruit Recognise. Enterprise Agreement campaign on 10 December 2018 from 0800 – 0900 hrs. [...]