Mater hospitals bosses admit staffing crisis

Staff shortages have reached “horror levels” at four of the state’s biggest hospitals, raising fears of fatal mistakes and mental health breakdowns.

Staff shortages have reached horror levels at four of the state’s biggest hospitals, leaving medicos and unions fearful of fatal mistakes and mental breakdowns.

Nurses report a shortage of 100 full-time nurses at Mater hospitals in southeast Queensland.

They claim students are being used in high-responsibility roles in post-anaesthesia care, operating theatres are closed due to understaffing, 16-hour shifts are not unusual, staff are quitting in droves, managers are in tears and educators are working instead of training staff.

A leaked email to all staff on Thursday from Mater Health executive director Daniele Doyle acknowledged staff were undertaking extra responsibilities due to shortages.

“Mater Health is facing a number of challenges at this time related to staffing … managers are actively working on plans to address the issue of agency staff recruitment, staff sickness and the additional demands placed on us by the response to Covid-19,” the email says.

The Mater Hospital in South Brisbane

The Mater Executive has now established a Mater Health Workforce Committee, to come up with a strategy for recruitment.

Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union secretary Beth Mohle said the union was urgently working with Mater members to address issues linked to chronic understaffing and workloads.

Nurses Professional Association Queensland state secretary Aenghas Hopkinson-Pearson said he had heard horror stories about Mater hospitals.

“We have launched a full investigation into dangerous and potentially deadly understaffing and workload issues and will soon deliver our findings to the Mater executive,” he said.

“Their refusal to address chronic workload and understaffing issues could lead to deaths, distressing nurses and have left them fearing for their registrations.

“We have been told that other health staff, including surgeons, have raised similar concerns at the executive level.”

A desperate whistleblower who contacted The Saturday Courier-Mail said: “It’s like a tsunami and we are drowning. Patients are not safe and the nursing executive is in damage control with crisis meetings every day.

Mater Health executive director Daniele Doyle

“The number of ads on SEEK looking for more staff is laughable. It’s too little too late. It is not simply because of Covid-19, it’s been going on for a long time.

“It is time to stop investing in fancy menus by celebrity chefs … and invest in nurses.”

The source said Mater nurses were also paid less than Queensland Health nurses.

“Nurses struggle to be put on permanently but are kept as casuals or part-time,” they said.

“They deserve better as they are working multiple double shifts in a week.”

In a response to the claims, Ms Doyle admitted Covid-19 had posed “challenges” to healthcare providers, including Mater.

“Covid-19 response initiatives such as standing up vaccination clinics and hotel quarantine have had a direct and significant impact on the health workforce across the sector,” she said.

“Mater’s own contribution to the Covid-19 response has required the diversion of some staff to alternative duties.

“In addition, some staff have been required to work overtime or take on additional responsibilities.

“Despite these challenges, Mater continues to deliver exceptional healthcare services that ensure patients are safe and staff are supported.”