Qld nurse sacked two years after refusing Covid jab

An experienced nurse lost her job at Christmas - more than two years after she failed to comply with Queensland Health vaccine mandates - despite critical health staff shortages.

A registered nurse with seven years’ experience was terminated from her job at the Queensland Children’s Hospital at Christmas, more than two years after failing to comply with the government’s Covid vaccine mandate.

Ella King has slammed the sacking, in the middle of a critical shortage of health workers.

The 29-year-old told The Courier-Mail that over her career she has never been non-compliant but after witnessing some of her colleagues reacting very badly to the vaccine she decided not to go ahead with the jabs.

“I have more than 30 years of nursing ahead of me. Didn’t the Health Minister announce that there was a shortage of nurses in the state and it is likely to get worse as so many nurses are nearing retirement? I am a committed, passionate nurse and it doesn’t make sense to terminate me now,” she said.

Queensland Health lifted the vaccine mandate in September last year.

Ms King said that in 2021 Queensland Children’s Health must have been aware of a high rate of adverse vaccination reactions as they introduced a special sick leave for post-vaccination.

The government has made it clear that healthcare staff who have been terminated due to the vaccine mandate could reapply for their jobs.

“Why waste time with that process? Also, will a person get their job back when they have a non-compliant black mark against them?,” she said.

Nurse Ella King outside the Queensland Children's Hospital in South Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman announced in October last year that 40,000 health workers would need to be recruited over the next decade.

“We have a massive challenge of finding, securing and retaining staff. Queensland Health is also facing a retirement and institutional knowledge cliff with 11 per cent of workers over 60,” Ms Fentiman said.

Ms King gained experience at the QCH in neurosurgical, neurology, orthopaedics, medical and oncology. She is now six months pregnant.

Ms King said she would love to work at the Queensland Children’s Hospital until the day she retires.

“Prior to the pandemic I was never subject to disciplinary processes or management intervention and I had great rapport with the staff and patients,” she said.

It is believed that more than 1000 nurses were stood down due to Covid vaccine mandate

A spokesman for Children’s Health Queensland said he was unable to comment on the employment situation, including disciplinary action, of individual employees.

It was emphasised that disciplinary action is not taken for failing to get vaccinated but for failing to follow a condition of employment.