… ANMF calls on Minister to fund PEN nurses.

On the 31st March 2016, Mr Andrew Wilkie MP sent a letter to the Minister for Health, The Hon Sussan Ley MP. In this letter, Mr Wilkie urged the Minister to “maintain funding for the seven Psychiatric Emergency Nurse (PEN) positions at the Royal Hobart Hospital. “

The reply from the Federal Minister of Health stated “As you are aware, the PENs at the Royal Hobart Hospital was funded as part of the Health Assistance Package, which was always due to conclude on 30 June 2016. It was not intended to be an ongoing program.”

“PEN nurses are highly trained specialists working in the Emergency Department (ED) at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH). They assess, plan and manage mental health patients or those with mental health presentations; ensuring appropriate pathways (either discharge, transfer to community care or admission to Department Psychiatric Medicine (DPM) or Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). “

“A PEN’s role is important for safety to all patients and staff in ED through to a more timely and professional response. This makes for better outcomes for patients and their families, with more appropriate pathways to ensure necessary admissions can be admitted as well as reported cost savings overall. “

“To have no PENs working in ED means an increase to inappropriate admissions, increased bed block in ED, increased danger to patients, increase in violence and aggression as agitation will increase due to unsuitability of the environment for an extended stay, which may falsely increase the patient’s acuity and length of stay on DPM or PICU.”

“The PEN role was an initiative coming from a recommendation from a grievance to ANMF in 2007 and implementation of the role was confirmed in 2013 with Commonwealth funding. To have this crucial role come to an end with no further discussion of funding is totally negligent.”

“ANMF urges the Tasmanian Minister for Health, Michael Ferguson as well as the Federal Minister for Health, to assist in continued funding of this crucial role that has become a necessary and invaluable service to the Emergency Department team and patients. Having PENs on staff takes a great deal of stress and additional workload off the already struggling Emergency Department within the Royal Hobart Hospital.” –
Janine Kemp