Mandated Transfer of Care no longer mandated with a holistic approach to Access and Flow proposed
Media Doorstop
When: TODAY, Thursday 11 April 12:00 midday
Where: ANMF Office, 19 Brisbane Street, Launceston
Who: ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Emily Shepherd
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch will today consult with members on a final response from the Department of Health regarding the Mandated Transfer of Care Procedure. This consultation follows the Tasmanian Industrial Commissions (TIC) directed extended consultation period and further concerns raised by ANMF members with regard to mandatory offload of patients into overcrowded and under-resourced Emergency Departments.
Last evening, a final response was received concerning ANMF members’ concerns, which included the removal of the mandate to offload every patient within 60 minutes of arrival at Emergency Departments. There was also a commitment to review workloads and staffing across the State’s hospitals, not just at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH), Launceston General Hospital (LGH) and North West Regional Hospital (NWRH), in conjunction to the non-mandatory implementation of the transfer of care procedure. Additional strategies to improve access and flow across hospitals was also highlighted in the response.
As a result, the ANMF will today commence consultation with members on what is expected to be a welcome response from the Department of Health and seek their views on whether the dispute before the Tasmanian Industrial Commission should be withdrawn or an alternate listing date for arbitration should be sought. Given the significant movement by the Department of Health and the measures to address members’ concerns, it is anticipated that the matter will likely be withdrawn.
The ANMF commend members for standing up for a holistic and safe improvement to access and flow right across the health care journey for patients from the community through to discharge from hospital. The ANMF will continue to support members in their efforts to improve access and flow along with safe and timely care delivery to all patients.
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au