Public Sector Updates – South

Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH)

Ward 2A

The ANMF, on Monday 18 July 2022, received a response from Tasmanian Health Service (THS) management regarding identified workload, staffing, educational and workplace aggression, and violence within RHH Ward 2A (Medical Specialties). This letter will be distributed to members via a separate Newsflash for their consideration ahead of an anticipated member meeting to be arranged as soon as practicable.

Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (NPICU)

The ANMF, on Thursday 14 July 2022, met with THS senior management regarding ongoing work in ratifying the proposed NPICU Nurse Hours per Patient Day (NHpPD) Benchmarking with the relevant Australian Standards (the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses – ACCCN). It is anticipated that once complete, this work will result in as-yet defined increases for staffing in alignment with requirements for specialised roles such as access, equipment, research etc within the unit. Whilst initial discussions were cordial and fruitful, more work remains, and a subsequent meeting is to be arranged in the near future. The ANMF commits to advising members via a Newsflash urgently once this work has been settled to advise any outcomes.

Emergency Department (ED)

The ANMF met with local management for RHH ED on Friday 16 July 2022 to discuss several issues identified by members and local Representatives alike. The THS has pledged to advise further in writing and the ANMF anticipates progressing these matters to higher forums if appropriate for formal consideration.

Statewide Mental Health Services (SMHS)

Forensic Mental Health

The ANMF has received a request from SMHS senior management for an extension to the response date regarding our letter requesting additional resources within the specialty. Subsequently, the response date is now set at Wednesday 27 July 2022. Members will be provided a copy of the same via a separate Newsflash once received.

Adult Community Mental Health Service (ACMHS)

Continuing Care Team (CCT)

The ANMF lodged an application to the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) on Tuesday 17 May 2022. This was the result of a long-standing grievance with ACMHS and nurses who work in CATT and Case Management.

The first conference in the TIC was held on Tuesday 7 June 2022. A major outcome of this was maintenance of status-quo will the grievance is being resolved. In this instance this was a return to pre-reform hours for ACMHS CATT and Case Management workers.

The first ‘report back’ conference was held on Thursday 30 June 2022. Click here to view the newsflash that was sent to members following the conference.

Additional information has been provided by MHS management to the ANMF, as requested by the ANMF in the TIC and directed by President Barclay. On Friday 15 July 2022, Mental Health Services (MHS) notified the ANMF that an information session will be scheduled to discuss matters in relation to roles and responsibilities of the different levels of clinicians working within the service. It is hoped that this will provide clarity and an opportunity to work through the remaining concerns. We will attend this information session. The date and time (at the time of writing) is yet to be advised by MHS.

A further Work Health Safety (WHS) meeting has been scheduled for Thursday 28 July 2022 at 1330hrs in the Carruthers Building at St John’s Park. This will be to discuss the matter of extended hours for the ACMHS Continuing Care Service. As per last meeting, a representative group will be invited to attend with agreement for MHS management that the assessment sent out to all clinicians for consultation.

Work in relation to the WHS assessment of home visiting is still yet to be completed with feedback able to be provided until Thursday 21 July 2022, as per the ANMF newsflash here.

An ANMF member’s meeting will be scheduled following the next WHS meeting.

Mental Health Inpatient Unit (MHIU)

A member’s meeting was held on Wednesday 6 July 2022. Matters discussed included.

Safety in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) with members reporting a high number of assaults.
Outcomes from the Work Health and Safety (WHS) assessment of the HDU conducted early 2021 which are still to be completed.
Mistakes in pay – Members are encouraged to thoroughly check their pays each week and contact the pay office directly if any mistakes are found.
Members are seeking an increase in their uniform allowance to reflect a full time or pro-rata equivalent allowance after tax, with members stating their allowance is taxed so highly that the value is heavily reduced.

Unless advised otherwise, all matters will be followed up at a local level first, with members having reported that management is aware of these concerns and some steps to address same. A Newsflash will be sent out to members when a written response is received to the above concerns. A further meeting will also be arranged with a date and time to be advised.

Updates correct as at 21 July 2022.
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.

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