Healthscope readies plans to mandate Covid-19 jabs across entire workforce

After making Covid-19 vaccines compulsory for its NSW staff, Healthscope is drawing up plans to roll out the policy nationwide.

Private hospital operator Healthscope is preparing to make Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory for all staff.

Australia’s second biggest private hospital operator, Healthscope, is preparing to make Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory for staff nationwide after introducing compulsory jabs across its NSW workforce.

The NSW government plans to issue a public health order in coming days, forcing all health workers to be inoculated against Covid-19 as the state struggles to contain its outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant.

But Healthscope is considering going one step further, potentially requiring its doctors, nurses, orderlies, cleaners and other workers nationwide to get the jab.

Chief executive Steven Rubic said the community expected healthcare workers to be vaccinated to help protect both themselves and vulnerable patients.

“As we are a national organisation we will look to take an Australia-wide approach to staff vaccination against Covid-19,” Mr Rubic said.

“There is much detail to be worked through in all states and territories before we introduce any such requirement beyond NSW, in particular consulting with our staff and unions across the country.”

Healthscope CEO Steven Rubic and Darwin Private General manager Jo Seiler. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Hospitals Healthscope operates include Sydney’s Northern Beaches Hospital, Melbourne Private, Brisbane Private, Darwin Private, Hobart Private and Mount Private in Perth.

Some unions have flagged legal showdowns over mandatory jabs, with Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus saying last week that employers should not mandate “medical procedures”.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing workers union has protested against SPC’s ‘no jab, no work’ policy, saying many employees weren’t yet eligible for the vaccine recommended for their age group and shouldn’t be forced into what they say is a failing of the Morrison government.

Qantas has since joined SPC, following America’s lead in making Covid vaccines compulsory, with Microsoft, Walmart, Google, Facebook, Uber and Lyft all banning unvaccinated workers from their US offices.

Unlike white collar workers, health workers are higher risk, given their treatment of Covid patients and vaccination is the main tool in preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed by the Delta-variant.

“We are an organisation that champions safety for our people, VMOs (visiting medical officers or doctors) and patients. Being vaccinated is evidence of that safety commitment to protect our people and community,” Mr Rubic said.

“With the Covid Delta case numbers rising daily, lifting vaccination rates across the country is the key to Australia returning to the freer way of life we’ve missed. It will also ensure hospitals are freed up so patients can receive vitally important treatment and surgeries in a timely manner.”

Mr Rubic said he understood that this decision from the NSW Government may raise questions for Healthscope’s NSW staff and he was “committed to working to support our people through all the stages associated with this change”.