The ANMF Calls on State Government to Take Action on Bed Block

25 November 2025

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) today calls on the Tasmanian Government to take action to address access and flow challenges across the entire State.

ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said this comes after members across the Northwest from the Mersey Community Hospital and the North West Regional Hospital met with Minister Bridget Archer yesterday, where access block and ED capacity driven by a lack of in-patient beds dominated conversation.

“Our members provided Minister Archer with an overview of their challenges and potential solutions, many of which focused on access block and how to increase flow through our hospitals, and the need for more community services,” Ms Shepherd said.

“The State Government has continually noted that access block across hospitals is a result of NDIS patients or those awaiting nursing home placements.

“While ANMF members agree and acknowledge that the Federal Government has a role to play in providing funding and resources to this cohort of patients, the fact is that they are Tasmanians and they need assistance now, and our hospitals, staff and patients can’t wait until the State and Federal Governments finish their funding stoush before action is taken.”

Ms Shepherd said the ANMF acknowledges this is the shared responsibility of the State and Federal Governments.

“Which is why the ANMF has written to the State Health Minister, as well as the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, jointly asking for urgent funding to increase staffing at our district hospitals and to fund Medi-hotels as an interim strategy to support eligible patients awaiting nursing home placement or NDIS accommodation to receive care through a model similar to the model employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Ms Shepherd said addressing access and flow challenges will be of enormous assistance to the Tasmanian Health Service.

“By increasing the capacity in our hospitals, patients will receive care in a more timely way, admitted patients will be able to be moved out of the ED faster and therefore there will be more room in our EDs, and the Government can do away with their transfer of care protocol as it won’t be needed, as the actual issue will be addressed, increasing access and flow.

“While the ANMF acknowledges not every patient will be able to go to a district hospital or Medi-hotel, the reality is that many will, and this will be a significant improvement for our hospitals to provide treatment to all patients.”

Ms Shepherd said many district hospitals currently have vacant beds due to insufficient staffing levels, which at times see only two staff employed in the hospital.

“These staffing levels are completely inadequate as any patient who requires more than one nursing staff member to ambulate, transfer or receive care cannot be accommodated, as it leaves the rest of the facility unattended, not to mention if the facility has an ED that needs to be supported.

“This is just another example of how cutting corners at every turn results in inefficient systems and causes disastrous flow-on impacts to other parts of the health system. This is a State Government responsibility, and it needs to be addressed urgently.”

Ms Shepherd said the Medi-hotel model worked incredibly well during the COVID-19 pandemic with nursing staff leading the model with access to medical support if required.

“However, a Medi-hotel for NDIS or those awaiting nursing home placement is distinctly different in that many of these patients are already medically cleared and only need nursing or care support.

“While not every patient would be suitable, many who only need low care could be well supported by this model, and it would likely be of greater benefit to these patients, as the longer spent in hospital, the higher the chance of contracting hospital-acquired illnesses.”

Ms Shepherd said the ANMF acknowledges the Federal Government is implementing many aged care reforms to improve the aged care system into the future.

“However, the reality is that these reforms and any benefit is likely to be years away, and action is needed now.”