Nurses in mental health ward resign as Covid wave takes toll

Nurses have voiced concerns about having enough protective equipment during the peak of the Omicron wave and say if not resolved they are resigning.

NURSES say they are resigning because they do not have enough protective equipment against infection in the most dangerous wards for patients during the peak of the Omicron wave.

Gold Coast Health has responded by saying morale among staffers is not dropping and none of the recent resignations, in their mental health unit, was due to Covid.

Picture of the Covid testing lines outside Gold Coast University Hospital. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

But Currumbin MP Laura Gerber, responding to concerns raised with her office, has provided the Bulletin with information showing real fears about nursing at the University Hospital mental health units where patients can move around freely unlike others restricted to beds.

Health sources say staffers after being notified of their first Covid positive patient within two days had run out of masks, goggles and gowns.

“They no longer had ample supply of Iso alcohol to clean work spaces — or enough hand sanitiser for staff. The lack of preparation and foresight for this is astonishing,” the source said.

Gold Coast Health maintains that across the service “there are adequate supplies all PPE items” and staffers had been fit-tested for two masks.

A meeting was held, the staffer said, and discussions focused on building more walls in the ward to give the staff “clean” spaces to be able to work.

eGold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood. Picture Mike Batterham.

But it was decided that one of the two mental health wards would be a Covid positive ward.

“The morale between staff had plummeted with three staff resigning. They could not believe they have allowed them to work under these conditions. They are already five staff members short for a shift which is dangerous for both staff and patients,” the source added.

“They (management) are all well aware that it is a pandemic and that there were going to be trying times ahead but not once did they think that not even a couple of days after receiving their first Covid positive patient would the whole thing crumble.

“The mental health ward is a ward like no other ward in the hospital. The patients are mobile, often not compliant with having to wear masks and the nursing staff have constant interactions with them.”

A Coast health spokesperson said: “It is untrue that staff morale has plummeted. We recognise that all of our staff are working under challenging conditions and applaud their dedication and commitment to serving the Gold Coast community. There have not been any resignations from staff in the Mental Health Unit associated with the latest stage of the COVID-19 response.

Ambulances at the Gold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood. Picture Mike Batterham.

“Our COVID-19 response was developed nearly two years ago. The plan, readily available to all staff on our intranet, indicated that the Pandanus Unit would be used to accommodate mental health consumers with COVID-19, when necessary. This month saw our long-term plan actioned, after extensive preparation and staff consultation.

“We thank our staff for demonstrating a flexible and agile approach to the current changes faced across the health service. We applaud their professionalism as they deliver safe and compassionate care.”

But Ms Gerber said staffers and patients deserved better planning from the Government.

“The State Government has had two years to prepare for this, it is disgraceful that the hardworking nurses in the mental health unit at GCUH have been left so exposed and unsupported. Our hardworking doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals don’t deserve to be treated like this,” she said.

Follow @PaulWestonGC