Public Sector Updates – Statewide

Multidisciplinary Allowance

The ANMF wishes to provide you with an important update regarding the Multidisciplinary Allowance (MDA) as per clause 27.4 of the Nursing and Midwifery Agreement (Tasmanian State Service) 2023.

A recent matter was conciliated by the Tasmanian Industrial Commission, necessitating a review of the MDA and its application to staff, particularly where a cap has been applied at AHP 3-4.

If you believe you are eligible for the MDA and are not currently receiving it, please reach out to your manager first. If you do not see progress, contact the ANMF Member Support Team at Membersupport@anmftas.org.au for assistance.

The ANMF Challenges New Hiring Freeze!

The ANMF is raising serious concerns about the new Department of Health Vacancy Control Committee, intended to assist with budget repair. We fear this committee could compromise patient safety and delay crucial recruitment, further exacerbating staffing issues in our hospitals.

Nursing unit managers are frustrated by prolonged hiring processes, leading to the loss of top candidates. Alarmingly, filling a permanent key nursing unit manager role at the Royal Hobart Hospital was denied without explanation, worsening workload and turnover issues.

We urge the exemption of all essential clinical roles from these control measures to ensure patient safety and staff support. Nursing and midwifery roles that have been identified through the industrial process as a minimum safe staffing requirement. The current vacancy level of nursing and midwifery roles across the state is excessive and out of control; we suggest that there is NO risk in swiftly recruiting and employing competent candidates into these roles as a matter of urgency without the need to elongate bureaucratic delays.

Public Sector Your Voice is Heard!

The ANMF is acutely aware of the excessive and unreasonable workloads that you, our dedicated members, are facing at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital, North West Regional Hospital, and Mersey Community Hospital.

As a starting point, the ANMF has requested that positions vacant for over 3 months be re-advertised with the market allowance that was recently negotiated during the enterprise agreement process, to enhance recruitment prospects, starting with critical areas such as Intensive Care, Midwifery Services, Operating Theatres, and Emergency Departments and moving to other hard-to-fill positions.

Public Sector Security

We’ve discovered a troubling development at the Royal Hobart Hospital that may well not be isolated to this regional area. Associate Nurse Unit Managers (ANUMs) are being trained to conduct searches and pat-downs for weapons on patients—a task far beyond their nursing duties and a serious safety risk.

Nurses are healthcare professionals, not security personnel! The ANMF is demanding immediate action from the Tasmanian Health Service (THS) to provide proper security staff for these situations.

The ANMF advise members NOT to complete these duties as in our view these duties sit outside of the scope of practice and statement of duties of nurses and midwives. We further advise members that if taking on this responsibility, be mindful of the risk that you are shouldering should a weapon be missed. We suggest that trained and resourced security personnel are the appropriate personnel to maintain safety and perform such duties. More importantly nurses and midwives should be focused on clinical duties and care and have this valuable time removed to attend to security duties.

We are committed to ensuring our nurses’ safety and proper role responsibilities. If unresolved, we’ll take this issue to the media.

Updates are correct as of 10 July 2024.
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

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