Public Sector Updates – North West

Mersey Community Hospital (MCH)

The ANMF was notified that the MCH was at Critical Capacity on Monday 1 September 2025. Staff across the region were advised they may be redeployed to assist, and all education and non-essential meetings were to be cancelled.

Despite this, MCH continues to operate the Medical Ward with 33 open beds, while only 30 are funded. This unfunded bed pressure has been a longstanding issue, with staffing gaps regularly filled through overtime and additional shifts. The ANMF has been advised a proposal has been put to the chief executive for approval to fund the ward to 33 beds. The ANMF will continue to advocate for this to progress and will discuss with members how they would like to pursue this, including possible industrial action.

At the same time, ED staffing continues to fall short of the agreed 2023–24 benchmarked levels, which identified the need for a 7.77 FTE increase. This has not yet been implemented, leaving the ED staffed below minimum safe staffing levels. The ANMF will be escalating this to the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) for resolution.

Emergency Department (ED)

The ANMF met with members of the Mersey Community Hospital (MCH) Emergency Department (ED) on Thursday 14 August 2025. During this meeting, members endorsed the ANMF to lodge a Step 1 Nursing Hours per Patient Day (NHpPD) Workload Grievance under the Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Interim Agreement 2013. View the latest update.

Theatre and Day Surgery Unit

The ANMF writes to update members working in the Theatre and Day Surgery Unit (DSU) at the MCH. At a recent member meeting, members endorsed the ANMF to raise a Nursing Hours per Patient Day (NHpPD) Step 1 Workload Grievance under the Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Interim Agreement 2013. View the latest update.

Medical Procedures Day Unit Grievance

As part of the grievance process, Hospitals North committed to re-benchmarking the unit, with the last benchmarking completed in 2022. This was to occur within four weeks; however, six weeks have now passed with no update provided. The ANMF has followed up and requested an update on this process and will continue to advocate for this benchmarking to take place.

Updates are correct as of 3 September 2025.
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

More latests news

Royal Hobart Hospital Assessment Planning Unit (APU)

[siteorigin_widget class="Tribe_Image_Widget"][/siteorigin_widget]Update: Member Meeting 28 November 2018 ANMF has been contacted by members at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) Assessment Planning Unit (APU) to hold a member meeting in response to concerns related to patient flow at the RHH. ANMF [...]

Royal Hobart Hospital Ward 7A

[siteorigin_widget class="Tribe_Image_Widget"][/siteorigin_widget]Update: Workload Concerns 28 November 2018 ANMF met with members at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) ward 7A to discuss concerns with fluctuating levels of patient acuity and subsequent workload concerns. ANMF understands the in-charge nurse is regularly required [...]

Royal Hobart Hospital Psychiatric Emergency Nurses

[siteorigin_widget class="Tribe_Image_Widget"][/siteorigin_widget]Update: Workload Concerns 28 November 2018 ANMF has been assisting the Psychiatric Emergency Nurses (PEN’s) to raise workload concerns with senior Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) management. The PEN’s in the RHH Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) report that the [...]