HACSU believes conditions at the North West Regional Hospital have gotten worse

After a coroner handed down findings into the death of a woman at a Tasmanian hospital two years ago, there are concerns a similar incident, or something worse, could happen again.

North West Regional Hospital. Picture: AAP/Simon Sturzaker

Staffing has worsened over the last two years, and ramping is still a significant issue - that is the assessment of conditions at the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) by Health and Community Services Union Tasmanian Secretary Robbie Moore.

Coroner Olivia McTaggart recently handed down her findings into the death of 74-year-old Zeehan woman Jane Chapman in June 2022 after she suffered a fall in the hospital’s emergency department.

Ms McTaggart said in her report that if the NWRH had not suffered from staffing shortages and bed block at the time, the fall and subsequent death of Ms Chapman could have been avoided.

Mr Moore said that staffing and ramping at the hospital had worsened since the incident in 2022.

However, the Department of Health says it has a range of measures to improve patient access and flow across all its facilities, is continuing to increase staffing, and cited the $1.4bn North West Hospitals Masterplan as a game changer for the region.

HACSU state secretary Robbie Moore as LGH pathology workers take their third strike action in two months, pictured outside the hospital. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Mr Moore said the NWRH relied heavily on agency nurses to fill staffing gaps.

“That means you do not have permanent staff - and the higher turnover of staff, the more risk it is to patients to have people that aren’t trained or haven’t been there longer who can’t put measures in place when you have patients with complex needs,” he said.

“We are still concerned that something like Ms Chapman’s death could happen again because of the lack of staffing.”

Ramping and bed block was another issue Mr Moore said was increasing at the NWRH.

“There’s meant to be a one-hour offload procedure for paramedics that is regularly not met; the government’s own commitment.

“We’re still very concerned that, ultimately, there needs to be more beds opened - and that hasn’t happened.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said it continued to work on various measures to improve patient access and flow across all Tasmanian hospitals.

“A review into Tasmania’s emergency departments was released in May this year, outlining a series of recommendations that the Department has committed to delivering by 30 June 2025,” the spokesperson said.

“Work is ongoing to implement the recommendations, which focus on capacity and service delivery models, demand management strategies, community and home-based care and the delivery of mental health services.”

North West Regional Hospital generic. Picture: PATRICK GEE

The department said it regularly engages with unions to discuss issues and solutions for the health system.

“We are always committed to working with them to address any concerns raised on behalf of their members.

“The department continues to recruit more health workers, with a statewide campaign currently underway to recruit staff across our facilities. At the NWRH, there have been increases in full-time equivalent staff every financial year from 2020-21 to 2023-24.”

The final North West Hospitals Masterplan was released in September.

The health department describes it as a “20-year vision to transform healthcare in the North West and meet the future health needs of the community.”

Originally published as HACSU believes conditions at the North West Regional Hospital have gotten worse