Exhausted Geelong health workers lift lid on Covid drain

The number of mental injury claims accepted by WorkSafe for local health workers has almost doubled, as sector leaders explain the toll of the ongoing Covid pandemic.

Health sector workers are lifting the lid on the fatigue sweeping the industry amid the ongoing pressures of the pandemic.

It comes as WorkSafe data showed accepted claims for mental injury locally almost doubled in two years.

As of Monday, August 22, WorkSafe had accepted 50 mental injury claims for 2021-22 for healthcare and social assistance workers in the Geelong region, covering the Greater Geelong, Surf Coast and Borough of Queenscliffe local government areas.

This was up from 42 for 2020-21 and 27 for 2019-20.

The data reflects the year injuries occurred.

A WorkSafe spokeswoman said Victorian employers must do everything they could to protect the health and safety of their workers.

Family Doctors Highton practice principal Ern Chang said the pandemic had been “physically and mentally exhausting”.

“At the very start I was prepared for the long haul … being aware of that was helpful, trying not to get burnt out at the start,” Dr Chang said.

He said health workers had been expected to do business as usual as well as the vaccination rollout, and managing patients with Covid and winter illnesses.

The GP said the clinic had copped abusive calls.

Family Doctors Highton GP Dr Ern Chang.

“We’ve had to take extra steps to protect staff,” Dr Chang said.

“Looking after one another has been important.”

Dr Chang said awareness and education among GPs and being able to seek help were important for preventing burnout, as well as implementing boundaries and knowing limitations.

Glenn Taylor, chief executive of the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria, said workers from the Geelong region had been contacting the free service, which offers counselling and support.

It had experienced a strong increase in demand over the last 12 to 18 months.

“I think what’s diving it is the sustained demand because of Covid ... it’s not stopping,” Mr Taylor said.

“People haven’t had an opportunity to have a break.

“There’s the physical side which is really harrowing.”

He said the service was seeing more psychological distress involving people feeling they were not able to do the job properly due to time, energy and resources.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said double shifts had been an issue at Geelong hospital for members over the recent outbreak.

“Workforces are doing this mostly to respond to unplanned personal, carers and pandemic leave but it’s unsustainable over the longer term,” she said.

“It’s taking a huge toll on nurses and midwives leading to many experiencing burnout.”

Ms Fitzpatrick said measures to address burnout should include hospitals continuing to pursue all avenues to recruit new staff.

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said overall sick leave declined this year.

“Like many industries that have experienced high pressures throughout the pandemic, the increased demand has impacted the wellbeing of some healthcare workers,” Ms Bibby said.

“We have recognised this issue by bolstering our wellbeing program to help improve the health and wellbeing of our staff.”

She said a range of initiatives had been rolled out, spanning from tokens of thanks like vouchers and team gratitude gifts, to wellbeing support sessions and resources.

Originally published as Exhausted Geelong health workers lift lid on Covid drain