Gold Coast hospital nurses speak out after buying food for sick patients, claims managers say they could be sacked

Nurses reaching into their own pockets to buy food for hungry patients in a rations crackdown say they have been threatened with the sack for speaking out.

NURSES reaching into their own pockets to buy food for hungry patients in a rations crackdown say they have been threatened with the sack for speaking out.

A nurse told the Bulletin that management yesterday warned staff at Robina and Gold Coast University hospitals not to speak to media about the kitchen situation, but tell their superiors.

The nurse, speaking on condition of anonymity, also claimed the hospitals were employing unnecessary managers at the expense of resources in wards.

“In a meeting today nurses were told you need to voice your concerns to us. Nurses said ‘but we do and nobody listens’.

WAIT TIMES GROWING AT COAST HOSPITALS

Robina Hospital

“And we’re told now if we speak out it’s a sackable offence. But we are the ones on the frontline who deal with all the complaints and we are just trying to look after our patients.

“This is coming from above but they are not interested.”

OTHER NEWS:

Man allegedly steals device meant for cancer sufferer

Sneak peek: New ‘bowling beer garden’ opens on Coast

Home buyers join subbies in fight for fairness

‘I tried Tammy Hembrow’s booty guide’

This week, Gold Coast Health said it had backtracked on a decision to dump hot meals from the short-stay unit menu at both Robina and Gold Coast University hospitals after concerned staff went to Bulletin.

Since January, patients were being offered a single sandwich for lunch and dinner, and a sandwich, cereal and yoghurt for breakfast.

Gold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood. Picture Mike Batterham

MASS WALKOUT AT COAST EMERGENCY ROOM

Previously, staff could request a hot meal for each patient, including children’s options, as well as sandwiches for snacks for those who missed meal times.

Recently, a nurse took it upon herself to buy a meal from the hospital canteen for an elderly diabetic patient after staff were allegedly told by the kitchen that they had met their “quota” for sandwiches that day, and could not be given more.

Staff feared the patient could go into a diabetic coma if they did not eat, a senior nurse said.

A Gold Coast Health Service spokeswoman last night told the Bulletin that longer stay patients in the ward were now being given the option of a hot meal or a cold meal during food service.

The hospital was only giving out sandwiches.

“We do not compromise on patient safety,” the spokeswoman said.

“We always encourage our nursing staff to speak up for the safety of patients, and they do

so with the full support of the executive leadership team.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN — JUST $1 FOR THE FIRST 28 DAYS

“If staff feel their concerns aren’t being taken seriously by their manager, they should

escalate further up the management chain, up to the chief executive if required.”

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates yesterday said she went hungry during an inpatient stay at Gold Coast University Hospital last year.

Ms Bates said she did not receive food for eight hours due to a technical issue with the online ordering system in her room — a problem which has also been raised by staff and patients in recent weeks.

Ms Bates said she was disappointed by reports the Health Service was “headhunting” nurses who spoke out about their concerns for patient welfare.

“My greater concern is whether this is more widespread, where else are they penny-pinching?”