The Hodgman Liberal Government is fixing Tasmania’s health system so that patients get the care they need and deserve.
Unlike previous Governments, we have spoken openly with the public about the many serious problems in the health system – problems that Labor tried to keep secret.
The long-standing issue of double shifts is a serious concern for our hospitals and the Double Shift Working Group, which includes representation from the THS and the ANMF, has been tasked with looking at the issues closely and is developing strategies to reduce the number of double shifts occurring in our hospitals.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has already taken action. In August, I announced that the Royal Hobart Hospital would recruit an additional 40 Full Time Equivalent permanent nurses to help to tackle this workforce issue. Recruitment is now in the final stages.
The new 40 FTE will be employed to a permanent pool, and will be allocated to wards on a basis of need. This will help provide cover for staff on sick leave, reducing pressure on casual nursing and on double shifts. The permanent pool will provide greater flexibility for wards to flex open beds to deal with change in demand, providing greater staff availability.
Last month we announced we would recruit an additional 9.58 FTE for the Launceston General Hospital, funded by the THS from overtime and double shift savings. This is on top of growth in the number of nursing FTE at LGH over 2014-15.
We are also recruiting an additional 15 graduate nurses this year on top of the 115 positions recruited as a minimum each year. The graduate positions will be offered across the Tasmanian Health Service, in the three regions North, North West and South and will commence in early 2016.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to developing long term solutions to this problem. We have taken already action through targeted recruitment, but we must continue to look at all appropriate means to tackle the problem of double shifts.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health
