Public Sector Updates – North

Launceston General Hospital (LGH)

Northern Coronary Care Unit (NCCU)

The ANMF recently consulted with members regarding the proposed model for a 14-bed unit – 8 Coronary Care Unit (CCU) beds and 6 step down beds for the Northern Coronary Care Unit (NCCU) at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH). View the latest update

Ward 4D

The ANMF has consulted with members regarding the proposal to reduce Ward 4D to a 14-bed ward to allow the NCCU to increase to 14-beds. View the latest update 

Joint Consultative Committee

• Temporary carpark works have commenced with expected completion by end of the year and construction of the multi – story carpark scheduled to commence early 2026.  
• Kings Meadows Renal Unit redevelopment construction is expected to commence prior to Christmas. 
• Northern Heart Centre is awaiting DA approval. 
• Northern Mental Health Precinct updates have been made to the proposal and consultation is expected to re-commence in October. 
• HVAC upgrade works progressing with Ward 6D expected to be the first ward to decant in October – the ANMF has requested and is yet to be provided with a change proposal regarding these works. 
• It was reported that there is ongoing recruitment occurring with 13.91 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) permanent and 41.41 FTE fixed-tern vacancies totalling 55.32 FTE vacancies across Hospitals North. 
• The ANMF requested an update on the recommendations from the Occupational Safety report conducted for Ward 6D. To date, this information has not been provided. 

Emergency Department (ED)

On Monday 1 September 2025, ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd and ANMF LGH Organiser Kristy Free attended the LGH Emergency Department (ED) to check in on members following reports the LGH was at critical capacity. Members reported that there were 25 patients in the ED awaiting inpatient beds and the demand was such that additional trolleys had to be sourced to accommodate patient presentations. Whilst elective surgery was paused, members continue to grapple with ongoing access and flow challenges from the ED right through to the inpatient wards and units who are facing increasing pressure to find suitable patients to discharge. Sadly, the ongoing insufficient resourcing and failure to address the systemic issues to allow the ED to operate successfully has resulted in the resignation of the Nurse Unit Manager (NUM), the 13th in just 7 years. These fundamental systemic issues cannot be placed on the shoulders of nurses and managers of ED when they are not even provided basic resources and support to fix them. The ANMF has sought a roundtable with Minister Archer and ANMF members to discuss urgent solutions to fix this ongoing dire issue.    

Day Procedure Unit

The ANMF met with members at Day Procedure Unit (DPU) who raised concerns about the ongoing use of the unit as a flex ward. With patients sometimes kept in DPU for several days, with only one shower, no windows or TVs, and limited access to allied health and dietary services. Nurses are often required, and at times expected, to work overtime to cover the gap between the DPU PM shift finish and ND shift start times. Members noted this issue reflects the larger problem of hospital-wide patient flow and access. 

Updates are correct as of 3 September 2025.
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary