ANMF Lodge Case for Arbitration as some NWRH Theatres are set to close
22 January 2025
Media Opportunity
When: Thursday 23 January at 11:00am
Where: 19 Brisbane Street, Launceston
Who: ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd
The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) attended the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) on Wednesday, January 21, on behalf of members at the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) Theatres, following a dispute between the ANMF and the THS Hospitals North West due to chronic understaffing of the NWRH Theatres.
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the dispute was initially raised by the ANMF in December 2019, May 2021 and then again in March 2023 due to unfilled identified nursing positions in the NWRH theatre complex.
“This consistently resulted in members working onerous amount of overtime, Australian College of Peri-operative Nurses (ACORN) standards not being met, shifts being unfilled and after hours there is increased pressure to complete day cases on emergency lists, often without notice,” Ms Shepherd said.
“In good faith the ANMF resolved the grievance in 2023 on the basis the agreed additional nursing staff were approved and would be recruited to.
“However, in July 2024, despite approval by senior nursing management for the required additional nursing positions , the ANMF were advised that the business case for the additional nursing staff was not supported by the Department.
“In August 2024, members commenced industrial action and finally in November were provided an update by the Chief Executive of Hospital North West to say that the business case was still not approved and would need to be reviewed by an external consultant prior to being signed off and this process would take some time.
‘The ANMF find this protracted process to be completely outrageous. The Tasmanian Health Service – Hospitals North West, have known about this matter for years and have wilfully put the health and wellbeing of their staff and potentially patients at risk by not acting to ensure that there are sufficient staff to safely staff their theatres and meet the North West Regional Hospitals Surgical Services demand.”
Ms Shepherd said the ANMF is stunned that rather than act swiftly to resolve this matter when it was listed in the TIC, a response was submitted by the Department of Health to the TIC stating that the additional nursing staff could not be appointed to ensure safe staffing due to budget constraints.
“Despite this the surgical services were still being delivered. To continue to deliver surgical services without achieving the required and agreed safe staffing levels at the NWRH is not only a blatant disregard of the legal requirement under the industrial instrument, but there is also a breach of professional standards and a risk to the safety of staff and patients.
“This is a consistent practice by the Department of Health to press on with service delivery to meet desired targets and to subsequently crisis manage when the wheels inevitably fall off.
“This is not only short sighted, but borders on negligent and perpetuates a culture of reactivity rather than proactive approaches to health service delivery which is not only inefficient but extremely costly.’
Ms Shepherd said the TIC has now set down directions for the matter to proceed to arbitration in March which the ANMF will now prepare for to ensure its members and the public are safe when it comes to receiving and delivery of nursing care.
“However, it would be prudent for all parties to have the Government intervene and provide the required additional funds to implement the additional nursing staff prior to this, saving additional funds and time of Department officials trying to defend an undefendable matter in the TIC.
“Clearly the additional nursing staff are required at the North West Regional Hospital Theatres, which is evidence by the service demand and activity, our members significant overtime and on call just to keep the service delivery level running, so the Government either needs to fund it or be transparent with the North West community about what they can or can’t afford to deliver.”
The ANMF has welcomed the commitment of some NWRH Theatres closing this week which will bring about a much needed relief and reprieve for our members.
“But of course the ANMF and members want to see the required level of surgical services reinstated to support the community, but this decision rests in the Department and Government hands.”
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Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au