Chief SA Health nurses say no elective surgery will be cancelled by industrial action
SIX of the chief nurses in local health networks across South Australia have assured patients that no elective surgery will be cancelled as a result of industrial action by the nurses’ union.
THE SA NURSE STRIKE: Moves and countermoves.
- MONDAY: Unclear if elective surgery will be cancelled or not
- SUNDAY: Nurses vow to cancel surgeries after Tribunal approves action
- FRIDAY: State Government takes union to court
- THURSDAY: Nurses warned over planned industrial action
SA Health’s six most senior nurse executives have signed a joint statement assuring patients that no elective surgery will be cancelled as a result of industrial action by nurses.
Led by Chief Nurse and Midwife Jenny Hurley — a member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation threatening the action — the statement is also signed by the executive directors of nursing covering the Central, Northern, Southern, Country and Women’s and Children’s Health Networks.
It comes as the nurses’ union continues to insist it has the option to escalate its current industrial action to including cancellation of some election surgery from Thursday, despite Health Minister Stephen Wade insisting it does not.
The communique states:
“There has been a large amount of media coverage in the past week regarding potential elective surgery cancellations due to proposed industrial action by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch).
“We, the Executive Directors of Nursing/Midwifery for each of the South Australian Hospitals and Local Health Networks, would like to reassure all our patients that no elective surgery will be cancelled as a result of this action.
“At the South Australian Employment Tribunal on the weekend it was agreed that the action planned by the ANMF posed a risk to patients. SA Health, in the best interests of patient safety, agreed to the ANMF advising their members to follow the SA Health “Elective Surgery Policy” and the associated documents.
“Patients should continue to prepare for their elective procedures as normal, unless specifically contacted by the hospital.
“As the nursing and midwifery leaders across the public health system we would also like to reiterate that out patients’ wellbeing is our priority and we will continue to provide safe and appropriate care to the South Australian community.”
The nurses’ industrial action is aimed at pressuring the State Government into more action to ease pressure on chronically clogged Emergency Departments in metropolitan hospitals.
Government action so far includes opening 30 beds in near-city country hospitals and contracting 20 extra beds in city private hospitals.
Between September 29 and October 14, a total of 56 patients were transferred from metropolitan hospitals to country hospitals including Mount Barker (12), Gawler (9), Strathalbyn (8), Murray Bridge (7) South Coast (5), Angaston (4), Kapunda (2), Clare (2), Eudunda (2) and one each to Gumeracha, Millicent, Yorketown, Tanunda and Naracoorte.
A letter from the nurses’ union to Mr Wade on Monday demands the opening of another 20 subacute beds at the former Repatriation General Hospital within 4-6 weeks and that no other beds including those used for winter demand be closed until “the crisis is over”.
Mr Wade says the opening of the extra 50 beds met the nurses’ initial demands and has baulked at rushing into opening beds at the Repat while consultation on the use of the site closed by the former government is concluded.