ANMF Members Striking
September 2024
ANMF (Tasmania) announced members at the Royal Hobart Hospital will hold a Stop Work TOMORROW following ongoing sustained and unreasonable workloads – impacting both staffing and quality patient care outcomes.
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said staffing challenges have been ongoing well before the COVID-19 pandemic but have been exacerbated by the pandemic and now a national shortage.
“However, despite the ANMF and members calling for action for years, the incentives and solutions have been slow to occur, leaving Tasmania lagging behind.” Ms Shepherd said.
“These are of course still welcomed but will not be the panacea they otherwise may have been.
“These challenges have been further impacted by Government election commitment to ban ramping which has resulted in an increase in ED workloads of up to 23% in recent months.
“There is now hospital-wide pressure to move patients out of inpatient beds much quicker resulting in ambulance ramping and unrealistic workloads due to NO ADDITIONAL STAFFING RESOURCES.”
WHAT: ANMF (Tasmania) Stop Work
WHERE: RHH Campbell Street Entrance
WHEN: 2:30pm, Tuesday, September 3
Special Note: Emily Shepherd ANMF members/midwives will be available for media interview
Ms Shepherd said members are burnt out and exhausted and urgent action is needed.
“Members are absolutely wrecked and it’s impacting their own health and wellbeing, leading members to reduce their hours or leaving nursing and midwifery.
“This is exacerbating staffing challenges even more.
“At the RHH Emergency Department in the last 12 months, 44% of shifts were worked below the required staffing minimum.
“There are over 600FTE permanent positions vacant just in the North and South regions.
“Urgent action is needed to support our members in their delivery of safe and quality care.”
Ms Shepherd said the ANMF has been engaged in discussion with the Department about solutions.
“These discussions have been productive but have not yet resulted in tangible outcomes to our members.
“Clearly, how the staffing challenges impact patient care have been clearly illustrated over the last week in the Maternity Unit at the RHH, patients’[ lives are at risk.
“The upcoming budget is also a source of serious concern for members as health and staffing cannot sustain further cuts.
“We encourage all to join us to show your support.”
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Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au