Media release – Health and Community Services Union, 12 August 2020
COVID-19 concerns renew calls to re-open Mersey Hospital emergency department
The emergency department at the Mersey Community Hospital remains at reduced capacity with no emergency admissions between 10pm and 8am.
Members and the community have expressed concerns that services are still significantly reduced since the change occurred after the north west outbreak of COVID-19 in April.
While government strategies have seen Tasmania remain relatively COVID-free, yesterday’s confirmed case in the north west shows we must remain vigilant and must have fully operational services at the ready to ensure the pandemic remains under control in this state.
The situation in Victoria proves how quickly things can go from manageable to out of control.
Quotes attributable to Robbie Moore, HACSU Assistant State Secretary:
“The pandemic response by the government has been commendable in many ways but the fact is that health services on the north west remain reduced and that is a risk when we are still dealing with a pandemic.”
“In May the Health Minister said the government was looking to reopen the Mersey to 24 hours as soon as it could, so the community needs an update on when this is going to happen.”
“You only have to look at what happened here on the north west coast in April and what is happening in Victoria now to know things can get out of control very quickly, so all services should be at capacity to deal with that.”
