Safe Hospitals Save Lives ‘Code Yellow’

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) is alerting the community of a Code Yellow alert on behalf of LGH ED members after ANMF members activated the Code Yellow late Tuesday night (20 August)/Early Wednesday morning (21 August).

ANMF Members activated the ANMF led Code Yellow after staffing levels in the Launceston General Hospital Emergency Department were not at the required minimum with only 21 staff on shift rather than the required 25, with multiple doubles and overtime being worked just to achieve 21 staff.

With 49 patients in the Department and two patients requiring 1:1 to care  one of whom had a rapid deterioration and had to be moved rapidly into a resuscitation bay, the working environment was incredibly stressful and arguably, yet again unsafe for staff and patients alike.

The ANMF has issued the public ANMF CODE YELLOW ALERT as the Department and Government will not and no additional resources have been provided to the LGH ED to assist with increased workloads due to the Transfer of Care procedure.