RHH Nurses Launch Action Over Devastating Clinical Trials Staffing Cuts
July 2025
WHAT: ANMF Media Call
WHERE: Royal Hobart Hospital, Campbell Street Entrance
WHEN: 12 noon, Thursday, July 24
Special Note: ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd and ANMF members will be available for media interview
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch is supporting Nurses from the Royal Hobart Hospital’s (RHH) Medical and Cancer Services, whom have launched industrial action in response to a proposed 58% reduction in the Cancer Clinical Trials Unit (CCTU) staffing.
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the cut will endanger patient safety, jeopardise current and future cancer trials and significantly reduce the capacity to deliver life-extending treatments to Tasmanians.
“ANMF members commenced action on July 14 ahead of the closure of the consultation period on the proposed changes,” Ms Shepherd said.
“ANMF members working in the service say the action is intended to raise public awareness and pressure decision-makers to reconsider a proposal that they describe as short-sighted and high-risk.”
Ms Shepherd said the campaign will include:
- Public Advocacy: ANMF members will wear campaign badges to demonstrate solidarity and raise visibility across the hospital.
- Community Engagement: Staff will engage directly with patients and the wider public to explain the risks of the proposed cuts and their potential impact on cancer care in Tasmania.
- Media Engagement: ANMF representatives, supported by Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd, will speak publicly to ensure the wider community is aware of what is at stake.
Ms Shepherd said the proposed staffing cut would have dire consequences:
“This proposal represents a 58% reduction to a unit that delivers complex, high-value research services – often the last hope for many patients.
“It undermines patient safety, staff wellbeing, and decimates Tasmania’s ability to attract and run vital clinical trials. With cancer diagnoses expected to surge by 35% over the next decade, cutting capacity now is reckless and deeply irresponsible.”
Ms Shepherd said the action of ANMF members to date has garnered strong support from doctors, administrative staff, and other health professionals across the service, who echo concerns about safety and service viability.
“A recent report from Cancer Council Tasmania forecasts a sharp increase in cancer diagnoses — from 11 to almost 15 Tasmanians per day by 2035 — further underscoring the need to expand, not cut, cancer clinical trial services.”
ANMF representatives outline the direct impact CCTU has on Tasmania population remembering:
“A Tasmania resident had no other options left in the state, which meant she was on a phase one clinic trial based out of Melbourne. When Covid hit and the borders shut, she could no longer get to Melbourne to receive her treatment, meaning she was stuck in Tasmania without treatment options. CCTU set up a satellite site to run the trial out of Hobart so the resident could continue to receive this life extending treatment. This Tasmanian resident had cervical cancer, and this treatment provided her with extra valuable years with her young children. Opportunities like this would not be possible without an adequately resourced trials unit and we want to ensure Tasmanian residents continue to have access to these life extending, if not lifesaving treatments.”
Ms Shepherd said the next Tasmanian Government must consider the cost these cuts will have, not only human but fiscal.
“Treating Tasmanians with chemotherapy or immunotherapy protocols which do not suspend or cure cancer in patients is wildly expensive, adversely affects patients and limits their quality of life and life span, clinical trials ensure that cancer patients and particular cancers are treated with targeted treatments that have been shown to be effective.
“If this change progresses the costs will be catastrophic both now and in the future.”
Ms Shepherd said ANMF members are calling for the current staffing levels to be maintained.
“They argue that based on current and incoming trials, if patients are recruited to studies, the unit could achieve a cost-neutral position within 4–6 months this will also allow for time to increase revenue and put the unit in a strong position for the future.”
Ms Shepherd said to restore confidence and transparency, the ANMF is also demanding further clarification from hospital management on:
- Details of cost-recovery processes for funded trials; and
- The current and projected financial position of the unit in relation to trial workload.
“The Government and health service executives must engage meaningfully with staff who understand these services best.
“Decisions made in a boardroom, without clinical insight, risk destroying a unit that is essential to advancing cancer care in Tasmania.”
The ANMF urges the Department of Health to halt the proposed changes and work collaboratively with frontline staff to safeguard the future of the RHH Cancer Clinical Trials Unit.
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au