ANMF Media Release: Access and Flow Solutions – Just Need the Basics
Tuesday 2 September 2025
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch today welcomed the opportunity to meet in the coming weeks with Health Minister Bridget Archer to discuss the ongoing access and flow challenges experienced by ANMF members at the Launceston General Hospital Emergency Department which are characteristic of those experienced by members across the State at our public hospitals.
ANMF Tasmania Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the ANMF acknowledges access and flow challenges are not just related to the emergency department.
“This is why key ANMF representatives from across the health system will be invited to meet with Minister Archer to share their extensive experience and also to bring their proposed solutions.” Ms Shepherd said.
“These may be new ideas but also proposed solutions that have not been acted on the past.
“It is critical the health system challenges are urgently acted upon not only to support the burn out and exhaustion affecting our members but also deliver quality care to the Tasmanian community who are seeking care and treatment.”
Ms Shepherd said on Monday 1 September, ANMF members within the LGH ED alerted the ANMF to being over capacity within the department with 25 admitted patients awaiting beds and presentations being such that additional trolleys had to be sourced elsewhere from around the hospital.
“The ambulance off-load area was being used as an additional patient care space and the department was five nurses short.
“While elective surgery was paused due to demand in an attempt to de-escalate the department this is a temporary stop gap measure to addressing an ongoing systemic issue.
“Sadly, during this visit, the ANMF was informed the current Nurse Unit Manager has tendered her resignation due to the ongoing frustration with the inherent access and flow challenges which continue to affect not only the ED but the entire hospital.
“This is the 13th Nurse Unit Manager who has resigned in the last seven years voicing similar concerns.”
Ms Shepherd said the challenges with access and flow and under resourcing of the health system must end.
“The weight of these long-standing inherent issues cannot rest on the shoulders of the hard-working nurses and nurse unit managers who have the added pressure of ensuring staff safety and patient quality care, without basic resources to support them in their roles
“The ANMF looks forward to working collaboratively with Minister Archer and our members to achieving improved access and flow, ensuring our members have the basic resources needed to do their jobs and deliver the quality care that they want to provide.”
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au