Public sector updates: southern region - Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (Tasmanian Branch)

PUBLIC SECTOR
Southern News

Royal Hobart Hospital

Education Department

The ANMF conducted a meeting with members in the Centre for Education and Research at the Royal Hobart Hospital on 11 August 2020, to take feedback on the current Change Proposal dated 9 July 2020. After some discussion it was decided amongst all present, that further internal discussion is warranted before members can provide an informed comment. ANMF have written to Tasmanian Health Service management requesting an extension to the deadline for response and will return to the unit at a later, yet to be confirmed, date.

Ward 2D Cardiology

The ANMF held a meeting with members in Ward 2D Cardiology and Cardiothoracics on 12 August 2020. The meeting had a great attendance rate with multiple issues tabled and discussed. As a result of this meeting, the ANMF have written to Tasmanian Health Service management to seek their initial comment against all points of concern. Pending a response, the ANMF will further consult with members on how best to resolve issues and achieve outcomes.

Bike Parking

The ANMF recently attended a meeting with the Royal Hobart Hospital Green Health Team to discuss the current status of bike parking at the hospital, along with strategies for construction of a dedicated, undercover, secure structure to better support staff’s active transport endeavours. This was a fruitful meeting with the separate efforts of Green Health Team and the ANMF appearing to complement each other. As such, the ANMF anticipate engaging in a unified campaign. Communications with Tasmanian Health Service management are well underway with several potential sites and options for a build being tabled. The ANMF will communicate outcomes to members as a priority once these are identified.

Ward 9A Inpatient Oncology

The ANMF have received a response from Tasmanian Health Service management regarding the Step 1 Grievance raised by the Royal Hobart Hospital Inpatient Oncology. The ANMF will review this letter and relay its key details to members via an email as soon as practicable. Furthermore, we will seek to arrange a meeting with members in 9A soon, with event details to be sent to members once confirmed.

Mental Health

Psychiatric Emergency Nurses (PENs)

The ANMF have been continuing discussions with management regarding parameters around a proposed trial of the PEN position in the Mental Health Short Stay Unit (MHSSU). On 6 August 2020, ANMF officials met with Mental Health Services management to discuss a new version of the draft trial. At this meeting the ANMF disagreed with the new draft trial proposal as it did not detail any specific parameters and failed to address the key concerns that have been continuously raised by members. Mental Health Services management agreed to develop a further draft trial document that would address these concerns. The ANMF are now waiting for Mental Health Services management to present a third draft trial document that will provide for coverage of meal breaks in the MHSSU, planned and unplanned leave and a more detailed plan around the collection of data in the MHSSU and in the Emergency Department during the trial period.

Mental Health Inpatient Unit (MHIU)

The ANMF have been advised that the move to K-Block has been completed for the Mental Health Inpatient Unit (MHIU), formally the Department of Psychiatry (DoP).

Concerns have been raised in relation to a plan to switch off the nurse’s station live feed of the HDU cameras that are situated in patient’s bedrooms. Cameras have been operational with a live feed to the nurse’s station for the past 15 years. The concerns that have been raised are in relation to the affect this may have on clinical care and safety of the patients. An email has been sent to all MHIU members and a copy is also available here.

Completion of the Nursing Hours per Patient Day (NHpPD) model is expected within the next month, with sign off expected to occur at the next Safe Staffing Meeting due to be held on 11 September 2011. At a Statewide Mental Health Services Industrial Forum meeting held Wednesday 12 August, ANMF were advised that there will be increases in Full Time Equivalent (FTE) clinical nursing hours across all three services in Tasmania: Spencer, Northside and Mental Health Inpatient Unit. ANMF have been advised that recruitment to fill these additional positions will commence immediately.

Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT)

The ANMF met with members from Southern Tasmania Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) sites on 6 August 2020, to discuss concerns in relation to work being done by the Tasmanian Mental Health Reform Project (TMHRP) working groups. A formal letter has been sent from the ANMF, on behalf of members, to Executive Director Mental Health Services Adie Gibbons. The ANMF requested a response to this letter by 21 August 2020. Once a response has been received a further meeting will be arranged and a summary of the response will be provided via Newsflash. A summary of the ANMF letter was sent to members via email on 13 August 2020 and a copy is also available here.

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

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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.

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