Unvaccinated hospital staff face sack while union officials can come and go freely
Union officials have been given permission to bypass strict vaccination rules at Queensland hospital facilities, with Opposition Leader David Crisafulli slamming the move as “outrageous”. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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Unvaccinated union officials have been left to move freely through Queensland hospitals despite the government introducing tough new restrictions limiting the visiting rights of patients.
All visitors to Queensland hospital facilities since December 17 must be fully vaccinated, and those who are not have been warned they must apply for prior approval or they may not be allowed to enter.
The Courier-Mail can reveal, however, unions have been given permission to bypass the process and send unvaccinated delegates into Queensland hospitals.
The revelation comes as Queensland recorded 19,932 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, while another 11 people lost their lives.
Contained in the chief health officer’s direction is a clause giving union officials the power to enter a health facility “in response to an emergent need” regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the exemption would ensure the “ongoing continuity of health care” in Queensland hospitals.
“We expect all regular hospital visitors to be vaccinated, however the health directives allow unvaccinated visitors in limited situations where it’s absolutely necessary,” she said.
“This may include emergency responders, contractors carrying out essential repairs and union representatives when an emergency workplace health and safety issue arises.
The union exemption is despite the state government on Tuesday restricting the number of people who can visit hospital wards.
Just two people are now allowed per ward and only one person – aside from the patient – will be allowed in emergency departments.
The government has also mandated that all frontline Queensland Health staff receive two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or risk dismissal.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli slammed the union exemption as a double standard.
“First this government was waving in football entourages while Queenslanders where locked out of the state and they’re at it again,” he said.
“Queenslanders have done what’s been asked of them including missing out on precious time with loved ones in hospitals and they’ve gone and created special rules for their union mates that flies in the face of these sacrifices.
“Any Queenslander who hasn’t been able to see a loved one in hospital throughout the pandemic will find this decision outrageous.”
Queensland Health is unable to say how many unvaccinated union officials have entered hospitals since restrictions were introduced on December 17.
A health spokesman said unvaccinated union representatives may enter a hospital, residential aged care facility, disability accommodation service or recreational venue in response to an emergency, but must alert the hospital to their entry and vaccination status as soon as possible.
Unvaccinated union delegates are also permitted to enter places considered “high risk” including schools and corrective services facilities – along with emergency services and those undertaking compliance checks.
Queensland’s hospitalisation rate increased to 835, with 52 patients being treated in intensive care – including 18 on a ventilator.
“It’s clear that the numbers of cases in Queensland hospitals continues to rise as we have always expected as we head towards the end of the month,” chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said.
“So the next three weeks or so are going to be a very tough time for Queenslanders, and also specifically for our healthcare workers in Queensland hospitals.”
Dr Gerrard said of the 11 people who had died, two of them had been unvaccinated – including a person in their 30s.
Seven others had been double vaccinated, while the remaining two had been boosted.
“These last two who had received the boosters were from residential aged care facilities and had very significant other medical problems,” Dr Gerrard said.
There are now 6,048 hospital, health and ambulance staff who are currently in quarantine – including 2,766 workers who have contracted the virus.
Although, health officials say many of these staff members contracted the virus or became a close contact through interactions in the community and in home settings.
Ms D’Ath said: “We are seeing much greater numbers than any of us could have predicted because of Omicron in a shorter time span”.
“We’re working with that.
“That’s why we’ve brought not just beds online in the private sector – but that the private hospitals are providing staff as well so we’re not having to supplement them with public health staff.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she did not expect the decision to reopen the state to international arrivals to have a big impact on case numbers.
One million Queenslanders have now received their booster shot, with officials urging more people to come forward.
“58 per cent of the eligible population due for their booster have had it, but of course there is still a big remainder there,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
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