ANMF release patient death details in open letter to the Health Minister

WHAT: Media Call
WHEN: 10:30am, Friday 27 March
WHERE: 54 Tamar Street, Launceston
WHO: ANMF Tasmania Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch today released the details of the patients who died recently at the Launceston General Hospital following long wait times and being placed in a thoroughfare.

“ANMF members are dismayed by reports by the Tasmanian Government and the Department of Health that no evidence supports these claims, when our members see daily the adverse impacts that lengthy wait times have on patients and how risky it is to have a patient parked in a corridor with no monitoring, oxygen or suction,” ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Emily Shepherd, said.

Ms Shepherd said in an unprecedented step, the details related to the two patient deaths have been relayed to the Health Minister.

“We have done this in the hope they will actually be investigated, and action may finally be taken on addressing the causative factor to long ambulance response times and ED wait times – access and flow.”

Ms Shepherd said a redacted version of the letter (to protect patient confidentiality) will be released publicly as sustained reports by Government and the Department of Health that no evidence could be found to support the claims have left members feeling unheard and untrusted.

“The fact that no evidence could be found to identify these deaths is quite alarming as it leads members to question how the Government is even tracking the adverse impacts of long wait times on patient care if at all.

“Members see daily these adverse impacts from the loss of dignity of receiving care in the waiting room, to patients lying on trolleys in the waiting room and in severe pain as narcotic analgesia cannot be administered, to patients requiring more invasive surgeries and ICU admission as they have waited so long for care and treatment to be delivered and ultimately those who deteriorate and die in the ED.”

Ms Shepherd said members are concerned that the transfer of care policy ensures that patients are at least brought into the ED yet care and treatment are still not timely.

“Deaths will be attributed to the illness or injury that they presented with, rather than caused by delayed care and treatment.

“However, despite this, the ANMF and its members remain ever willing to meet with the Government and work on actual solutions to improve access and flow across the entire health system in order to protect patients and ensure that they receive safe and quality care.”

-End-

Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au