Public Sector Updates – South

Royal Hobart Hospital

Maternity Services

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch has published a survey for members working within RHH Maternity services to complete at their leisure with questions oriented to the recent and ongoing Grievance procedure/outcomes associated with the service. This will be available to members until 0900hrs on Monday 20 September 2021, after which the results will be collated and relayed to members via a subsequent member meeting, to be arranged and advertised in the near future.

Paediatric and Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (NPICU)

The ANMF has received advice from the Tasmanian Health Service (THS) that a Step Two Grievance Specialist Panel meeting is scheduled for Monday 20 September 2021 at 1100hrs. This meeting will be used to explore workload and staffing issues raised thus far and to attempt to find resolutions/actions which will ensure safe staffing/safe practice. ANMF Reps and/or nursing members from the unit will be in attendance to represent clinical staff and their interests. The ANMF has arranged a member meeting for 1400hrs on Wednesday 29 September 2021 in NPICU to offer feedback on the progress of this matter to all members.

COVID Testing Clinics

On Thursday 9 September 2021 the ANMF responded to member reports from the Hobart COVID Testing Clinics of extreme/unsafe weather conditions for testing, with subsequent disturbances to personal protective equipment (PPE) and swabs and general disruption to clinical endeavours. After negotiating an outcome with Clinic management to resolve the immediate concerns, the ANMF expressed their interest in working collaboratively with the COVID-19 Health Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) and any other stakeholders to design and implement a structured weather-protocol. This was suggested in anticipation of more wind/rain/temperature related circumstances as spring progresses, and in the hope that it will provide a more objective starting point for future case-by-case discussions. If affected members continue to have concerns, they can/should contact membersupport@anmftas.org.au

Re-Benchmarking NHpPD

The ANMF has entered into a bipartisan venture with the THS to re-Benchmark a host of work sites in accordance with recent outcomes of the Statewide Safe Staffing Steering Committee, whereby occupancy rates will broadly be recognised at 100% of total bed values and a percentage of relief factor will be returned to the direct Establishment. This has already resulted in several significant gains in nursing full-time equivalent hours, and the ANMF has scheduled meetings to discuss outcomes with members.

Updates correct as at 15 September 2021.
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary