Media release – Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF), 14 November 2024
North West Private Hospital Nurses Stop Work Action
The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) will today support members at the Healthecare North West Private Hospital in their stop work action after months of bargaining for an agreement that support staff but importantly patients.
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the ongoing industrial action by members highlights the main concerns the agreement simply will not protect safe patient care.
“The agreement proposes to reduce staffing in the day surgery unit, high dependency unit and in the Rivendell unit,” Ms Shepherd said.
“These areas require a higher level of staffing to ensure that patients receive the level care needed to ensure their safety. Ratios of 1 nurse to three high dependency patients or 1 nurse to 6 mental health patients is not conducive to quality care outcomes or ensuring staff wellbeing.
‘It is disappointing that Healthecare do not value the delivery of quality care provision, reducing staffing ratios demonstrates that Healthecare value profit over safety and quality patient care.”
Ms Shepherd said the wage offer put to members of 10.75% over three years will not aid in retention and recruitment of nurses to the North West Private Hospital.
“This wage offer will see nurses at the North West Private Hospital paid below public sector workers and also below the closest aged care facility.
“This will do nothing the resolve the ongoing challenging recruitment issues that have affected the North West Private Hospital.
“Healthecare must recognise the impact the staffing levels and parity have on retention and recruitment in this agreement or face catastrophic staffing deficits as staff choose to work at other facilities.”
