Public Sector Updates – North

Launceston General Hospital (LGH)

The ANMF has written to Tasmanian Health Service (THS) management at the LGH demanding immediate action to address the escalating issue of aggressive behaviour—both physical and verbal—towards nursing staff. This urgent correspondence highlights the safety and wellbeing concerns of members working broadly across the LGH and particularly in Wards 6D, 5D, 4D, 3D, cardiology, and the Acute Medical Unit (AMU). View the latest update.

Ward 4N

The ANMF has formally escalated the Ward 4N Workload Grievance to Step 2 under the Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Interim Agreement 2013, Appendix C, after the THS failed to provide sufficient solutions to resolve the matter at Step 1. View the latest update.

Operating Room Suite (ORS) Workload Discussions

On Thursday 12 December 2024, the ANMF met with LGH ORS members to discuss current workload concerns and other related matters. The ANMF is now reviewing data and information provided by members following this meeting. Once this data has been fully assessed, the ANMF will determine the next steps to advocate for improvements. As part of the ongoing statewide workload dispute being heard in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC), preliminary information indicates that LGH nursing rosters, including ORS, are significantly below benchmarked Full Time Equivalent (FTE) levels, LGH total permanent vacancy 146.62 FTE and ORS 9.78 FTE. The ANMF is continuing its advocacy for LGH and ORS members via the TIC in the statewide dispute, the next hearing date is Thursday 13 February 2025, further update to follow.

Ward 4D Change Proposal Meeting

The ANMF will meet with Ward 4D members on Thursday 30 January 2025, to discuss the current change proposal and its potential impacts. The meeting will also address the pending release of Phase 2 of the proposal. Members are encouraged to attend and share their concerns to help shape the ANMF’s response.

Emergency Department (ED)  – Code Yellow Campaign and Understaffing

ED Code Yellow campaign remains active, and the ANMF urges members to continue scanning and reporting staffing breaches when the ED is over capacity. Of note, data provided as part of the statewide workload dispute indicates that the ED is currently 47.95 permanent FTE below benchmarked staffing levels. The ANMF will return to the TIC on Thursday 13 February 2025, to pursue solutions for ED understaffing alongside broader understaffing issues across the LGH and Statewide.

Updates are correct as of 8 January 2025.
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary