Public Sector Updates – North

Launceston General Hospital (LGH)

The ANMF continues to hear reports of chronic short staffing and significant access and flow challenges across the LGH. To address these concerns, the ANMF will be holding a roundtable meeting with Health Minister Bridget Archer on Friday 19 September 2025. Representatives from across the hospital will come together to share member experiences and discuss solutions, with the agenda focusing on the top challenges, immediate solutions, long-term solutions, and what members see as the gold standard for access and flow at the LGH. 

D Block Change Proposal

The ANMF has received a formal change proposal from the Tasmanian Health Service (THS) regarding the planned Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) upgrade within D Block at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH). The project is predicted to commence in October and take 14-18 months to complete. View the latest update. 

Northern Renal Unit

The ANMF advises members that the dispute regarding staffing and workload concerns within the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) Renal Unit and the Kings Meadows Satellite Unit relating to 2023 benchmarking not being implemented on a permanent basis has now been formally listed for conciliation in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) on Friday 26 September 2025. View the latest update. 

Allambi Relocation

The ANMF Branch Secretary and ANMF Organiser Nicki Hood visited members to hear firsthand the impact of the proposed relocation. There is a real risk that services will be directed impacted with the proposed relocation to Cimitere Street, which will of course also have an impact on patient services. The ANMF would like to hear from members how a move to this location will impact you as an employee. Do you have concerns with safety, access, breach of professional standards? If so, please share these concerns with ANMF by sending an email to Nicki.Hood@anmftas.org.au. 

Emergency Department (ED)

Over the past fortnight, ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd and ANMF organisers attended the Emergency Department (ED) on several days following reports of the department being over capacity, with 25 patients awaiting inpatient beds, and up to 6 nurses short on a shift with at times additional trolleys required to manage new presentations. The ANMF will lodge an urgent application with the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) to seek immediate action. 

Members are encouraged to continue completing the ANMF ED survey. Every response strengthens our case and ensures the TIC application reflects the reality of working in the LGH ED. The ANMF will continue to keep members updated on the progress of both the grievance and the urgent TIC application. 

Acute Medical Unit (AMU)

On Friday 5 September 2025, the ANMF attended the AMU following member reports of chronic and critical short staffing. At the time of the visit, the ward was managing high-acuity patients, including four requiring 1:1 nursing, but was only able to staff seven of the eleven required positions. Five staff were working double shifts, and the skill mix was heavily junior.  

Given the unsafe staffing levels, high patient acuity, and reliance on repeated double shifts, members requested a temporary closure of four beds for 48 hours to ensure the safety of both patients and staff. While hospital management declined to close beds — advising that only the secretary of Health can make such a decision — It was agreed that admissions to AMU would be restricted until staffing levels stabilised. 

Ward 5D

The ANMF has received an update regarding the Step 2 Grievance from 2023 concerning the appointment of a clinical coach. The ANMF was advised that the Chief Executive Hospitals (CEH) has approved the position; however, this is within current benchmarked numbers. Members have been clear that this role must be an additional indirect position to adequately support the upskilling of the workforce. 

As a result, the ANMF has escalated the matter to a Step 3 grievance to be heard by the TIC. The THS has been directed to provide a response by Tuesday 30 September 2025, with a conciliation date yet to be scheduled. The ANMF will update members once this has been confirmed. 

Ward 6D

The ANMF met with members on Ward 6D who continue to raise concerns about unsafe skill mix and ongoing violence and aggression from patients. Members report that at times only two Registered Nurses (RNs) are on shift often due to leave however given this is an ongoing concern members feel a clinical coach would help alleviate these pressures, as such the Step 2 grievance lodged in 2023 remains unresolved and the ANMF will continue discussions to escalate this.  

Members have also requested that the ANMF pursue a separate dispute regarding frequent episodes of violence and aggression on the ward. We will keep members updated as this progresses. 

Updates are correct as of 17 September 2025.
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary