NEWSFLASH: Private Sector Hospitals

COVID-19

Updates for nurses, midwives and care workers in Tasmania

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) have been working in conjunction with the ANMF Federal Office to swiftly advocate for all private sector hospital members affected by last Friday’s breaking news that private hospitals planned, or had, stood down nurses and midwives due to the suspension of elective surgery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ANMF Federal Secretary met with Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt and Industrial Relations Minister, Christian Porter to lobby to ensure support for all nurses, midwives and care workers who are employed in private hospitals across Australia. The ANMF were able to secure a commitment to ensure that all nurses, midwives and care workers working in private hospitals would be assured of ongoing employment after the Federal Government agreed to offer financial assistance after suspending all elective surgery from 1 April 2020.

Details of the private hospital viability and capacity guarantee included:

The Federal Government agreed to fund 50/50 of generated activity with the states and territories and;
Underwrite the gap between revenue received and private hospitals’ fixed costs (workforce on fixed operating costs).

The guarantee has several conditions, including retention of the workforce, contribution to the COVID-19 response as required/agreed by each jurisdiction and confirmation that the guarantee goes to support ongoing viability only and not profits or loan/debt repayments. This is a significant win for all private hospital members and offers confidence in ongoing employment in private hospitals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

If you have any concerns regarding your employment, please contact our Member Support Team via email membersupport@anmftas.org.au or call (03) 6223 67777 or 1800 001 241 (if outside Hobart). Due to COVID-19 the Team are now practicing social isolation and working from home, baring this in mind, email is the preferred and fastest way of contacting them.

Download a print ready PDF of this newsflash here.

View the full COVID-19 page here

Updates correct as at 3 April 2020
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary

COVID-19 TRAINING AVAILABLE HERE

In order to best support nurses, midwives and care workers throughout the current pandemic, we have partnered with My Midwifery and Nursing CPD to bring members up to date online training on COVID-19. This training is free for all ANMF Tasmanian members and includes 2 modules focused on COVID-19, totalling 6 CPD hours.

Access training here