Health unions raise concerns around quality of airconditioning in sections of the Launceston General Hospital
Two health unions say handing out icy poles to patients is an inadequate response to the lack of adequate airconditioning in parts of a major public hospital.
Tasmania
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ANMF join chorus about lack of aircon at LGH
12.36pm: The Department of Health will give an give an update on Tuesday about the Launceston General Hospital air conditioning situation and announce that the Department is working with external engineering experts to develop a permanent solution to the issue.
UPDATE 11.24am: The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Foundation (ANMF) has joined the chorus of voices singing about the airconditioning problems at Launceston General Hospital (LGH).
“We are aware of concerns from patients and staff regarding temperature control in D-block – an older part of the LGH site – when the outside air temperature is well above average, and we acknowledge these challenges,” Hospitals North Chief Executive Fiona Lieutier said.
“The whole LGH site has airconditioning, and significant investment has been made to improve these systems.
“This includes the recently completed $4 million LGH HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) Chiller Replacement Project, which saw 10 new chiller units installed, enabling the hospital’s various air-cooling systems to operate more effectively.
“Work continues to upgrade heating and cooling systems in D-block, including further replacement and upgrades of window tinting, window seals and cleaning of exhaust, as well as a trial of sun-blocking blinds, which will begin shortly.”
Mrs Lieutier said the Department of Health has been trialling the use of additional portable airconditioning units over the last few days.
“Opportunities to further improve the airconditioning and airflow in the LGH will be incorporated into future projects identified in the LGH masterplan, which is currently being updated.
“Our facilities and engineering teams are working with external consultants to investigate a permanent long-term solution to this issue.
“This includes investigating the installation of new cooling vents into patients’ rooms or outside rooms to provide additional airflow in affected areas.”
On Tuesday, the ANMF held a mass member meeting outside the LGH to discuss the issues.
The organisation’s Tasmania Branch Secretary, Emily Shepherd, said the organisation had lobbied “for years” to have the hospital’s airconditioning upgraded.
“We were successful in having the government allocate $4 million to this issue,” Ms Shepherd said.
“However, the state government – in its 2024-2025 budget papers – indicated the budget allocation has been exhausted, and the matter is now resolved.
“The difference between using available funds to put in stopgap measures and actually fixing the problem holistically, effectively, and sustainably is very, very different.
“Increasing the capacity of the air chiller has not solved the issue of regulation of temperature nor addressed linear air flow to fix the potential infection control concerns.”
Ms Shepherd said that despite introducing portable airconditioners, staff and patients suffered from high temperatures.
“The impact on patients, staff and visitors cannot be overstated.
“The temperature, humidity and lack of airflow is oppressive and uncomfortable, and the fact it directly places patients at risk is unacceptable; the government must seek expert advice and find a solution that actually fixes this issue as a matter of urgency.”
Previously: The state’s peak health union says the Launceston General Hospital’s (LGH) “critical areas” — including two wards and the ambulance ramp — lack adequate airconditioning, which poses a serious risk to staff and already vulnerable patients.
The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) is concerned about the airconditioning situation as Tasmania grapples with a heatwave.
The Mercury previously reported that staff handed out icy poles to patients to cool them down.
The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.
The department had previously said that additional cooling units would be added to the LGH during hot weather days.
HACSU Tasmania Secretary Robbie Moore said the current situation at the LGH is unsafe.
“Most of the measures that LGH management have told us that they’re doing won’t be actually implemented till March, which is far too late,” Mr Moore said.
“It’s been very uncomfortable for a lot of patients, and it’s been a very poor working environment for staff.
“These are patients that are in hospital because they’re already unwell.
“A number of them are in because they’ve had a stroke, and they’re being exposed to high temperatures in their rooms, which is totally unsatisfactory.”
The issues around temperatures in parts of the LGH were not new, according to Mr Moore.
“We’re a developed country to have conditions like this, knowing that the issue had occurred 12 months ago.
“We’ve been raising these issues, and for them to not put measures in is totally unacceptable.”
Mr Moore said something needed to be done.
“They need to take urgent action for the next few days. And it may even include needing to close some beds if it’s not safe.
“They need to install the appropriate airconditioning and other infrastructure urgently so that we don’t keep going through this.
“They’re giving icy poles out; that’s hardly the acceptable situation here. They’ve had more than enough time to prepare for this, but they haven’t.”
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