Launceston General Hospital staff are angry over cooling

Icy poles used to cool down patients as staff are desperate to bring some chill to sweltering hospital wards in Launceston. Read about the concerns.

Launceston General Hospital. Picture: Amber Wilson

The Department of Health says it will be adding additional cooling units to the Launceston General Hospital during hot weather days.

A spokesperson for the department said the units could be installed in the next few days.

The state is set to experience warm conditions in the next few days with Launceston forecast to hit 29C on Saturday followed by three days of 30C-plus temperatures.

Unions says staff monitored room temperatures in stroke wards at the LGH and found the temperature hitting close to 30C on Monday.

One solution given to staff and patients was to hand out icy poles.

“The LGH is also currently reviewing the introduction of additional air conditioning units on impacted wards during periods of warmer weather, with a trial to begin in the coming days,” the spokesperson said.

“We are aware of concerns from patients and staff regarding temperature control in D-block – an older part of the Launceston General Hospital site – when the outside air temperature is well above average and we acknowledge these challenges.”

The spokesperson said the safety and comfort of patients is the departments “number one priority”.

“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,” they said.

“Opportunities to further improve the air conditioning and airflow in the LGH will be incorporated into future projects identified in the LGH masterplan.”

Union members have been fighting for airconditioning at Launceston General Hospital for 12 months, and scoffs at icy poles being used as a solution.

Health and Community Services Union secretary Robbie Moore said the lack of proper airconditioning was “jeopardising staff and patients”.

“They should not be in that sort of environment,” Mr Moore said.

“It’s a very uncomfortable and dangerous situation for patients.”

The issue has been triggered by a hot day when staff were working in 28C, and patients sitting in stifling hot rooms.

HACSU state secretary Robbie Moore. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Mr Moore said staff have been told different things about if they can have icy poles or not.

“They’ve been told inconsistent lines,” he said.

Other measures like ice vests have not been made available, Mr Moore said.

Handing out icy poles to patients has created other issues.

“One patient was given icy poles, and they were diabetic and that created other issues,” Mr Moore said.

The staff are angry, he said.

“We’re relying now on icy poles to solve the situation,” Mr Moore said.

Last summer, staff were literally walking out the door from heat exhaustion.

The department of health have responded to other media regarding a recently completed the $4m LGH HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and airconditioning) Chiller Replacement Project — 10 chiller units were installed to air-cooling would be more effective.

Mr Moore said this hadn’t helped.

He said staff had been given many lines on why airconditioning wasn’t working like it spreads bacteria.

“The department has had more than enough time to deal with it,” Mr Moore said.

“There were the same problems last year. How they haven’t come up with solutions, is unexplainable and totally unacceptable.”

Launceston General Hospital. Picture: Supplied/Rob Burnett

Sallyann Geale has watched her father struggle in the heat, he has been a patient in the stroke ward for two weeks.

She said patients in the wards were sweltering in the summer heat.

“In both wards – one is the stroke unit where he is now – there is no airconditioning,” Ms Geale said.

“The room my dad is in was stifling. The blinds were closed, the lights were off, very ill patients had flung off their sheets and some had cold compresses on their foreheads and chests.”

Mr Geale said she asked staff why there was no airconditioning. She was told “airconditioning increases the transmission of infection.”

“This response was something they were clearly just quoting, rather than something they actually believed,” she said.

The union has written to LGH asking when the issue will be addressed. They have also asked for an urgent meeting with the Health Minister, Jacquie Petrusma, which is scheduled for two weeks time on February 13.

Meanwhile, Launceston is set to melt over the weekend and into next week, with Sunday forecast for 32 and Monday and Tuesday forecast for 35.

Originally published as Launceston General Hospital staff are angry over cooling