16 May 2019
Northern workers rally for the future of health care in the state
Rally
When: TOMORROW, Thursday 16th May 2019
Time: 2.30pm – 3.15pm
Where: Launceston General Hospital, side of main entrance
Media Doorstop
When: TOMORROW, Thursday 16th May 2019
Time: 3.15pm – 3.30pm
Where: Launceston General Hospital, side of main entrance
Who: ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd, ANMF officials and member representatives
Tomorrow, Thursday 16th of May, nurses and midwives in the north of the state will be stopping work to collectively gather in a bid to show the Tasmanian Government that they are concerned for the future of health in the state. This follows similar actions held in Hobart last week which saw over 200 nurses, midwives, health professionals and concerned community members rallying together on Parliament Lawns.
Members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) are steadfast in their view that without an improved wages and conditions package from the Tasmanian Government, the future of the health system will be at risk.
“Nurses and midwives, along with their colleagues, continue to share with the ANMF harrowing accounts of patients who have had adverse outcomes because of the current state of the health system,” said ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd.
“Nurses and midwives are advocates for their patients. As part of this role, despite being exhausted, they have remained proactive in providing solutions to the health crisis. These solutions were presented to the Hodgman Liberal Government over twelve months ago in the initial stages of public sector negotiations. Yet a year on and not only have Tasmanian nurses become the worst paid in Australia, they are still no further advanced in their enterprise agreement process.”
“Our members are genuinely concerned for their future patients. They are concerned that these community members may be at risk because there are not enough nurses and midwives to care for them,” said Ms Shepherd.
“It would seem that the current Government have no regard for facts, figures and evidence-based research. Information clearly indicates the time to invest in the nursing and midwifery professions is now! The fact is that by 2025 the predicted shortage of nurses and midwives across Australia is 85,000 yet the Tasmanian Government, despite being in power for over 5 years, have no plan to ensure there will be enough nurses and midwives to staff the ministers promised increase in beds across the state.”
“Nurses and midwives, despite being exhausted are frequently being called on to do overtime and double shifts to keep patients safe. This is costing the Government over 15 million dollars a year but still they will not implement an improved workload model.”
“Further, due to the Tasmanian Government’s lack of a workforce plan, they are currently paying over 15 million dollars a year to agency nurses and midwives to achieve basic staffing levels in speciality areas like Intensive Care, Theatre and Maternity Services,” said Ms Shepherd.
“Ultimately, the Tasmanian Liberal Government is not only disrespecting the importance of the professions by not tabling an offer that shows respect for the nurses and midwives working in a system under pressure. They are also showing disrespect to those Tasmanian’s that need to access the lifesaving services that nurses and midwives provide,” said Ms Shepherd.
ANMF will be holding a doorstop at 3.15pm tomorrow following the rally at 2.30pm. ANMF officials and nursing members will be available at this time to discuss the ongoing campaign and issues facing the state’s health system.
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Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au