A Closer Look
The Launceston General Hospital (LGH) has been facing severe staffing shortages, leading to the closure of 15 hospital beds and patients receiving care in the waiting room. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmania claims that 15 nurses were short of the mandated minimum on Friday night, resulting in the bed closures and inadequate patient care.
The Health Department, however, disputes the ANMF's claims, stating that both staff and beds were "flexed down" in line with demand. They also clarified that the high number of unplanned sick leave was a contributing factor, but wait times were not affected.
The ANMF maintains that beds were indeed closed due to insufficient staff and blames the government's mismanagement for the situation. They point to the government's inaction in filling vacant positions and the implementation of vacancy control measures, which they believe are exacerbating the problem.
In response to the staffing crisis, 10 agency nurses from other areas have been approved for redeployment to the LGH. However, the ANMF remains concerned about the ongoing vacancy control measures and their impact on frontline staff.
The government maintains that vacancy controls are not intended to cut jobs but rather to improve recruitment processes. They also highlight the recruitment of 568 staff in the past three months, including 166 nurses.
The ANMF has not yet confirmed whether they will take industrial action in response to the ongoing staffing issues. The situation at the LGH highlights the critical need for adequate staffing in hospitals to ensure patient safety and quality care.