North-west MPs raise concerns over cut to Mersey ED hours

An MP has likened the government’s late-night announcement of a cut to emergency department hours to “taking out the trash”.

• A petition is calling for Mersey ED to be reopened
• Lack of locums forces closure of ED at Mersey Community Hospital

THE decision to reduce the opening hours for the emergency department at the Mersey Hospital was a let down to the entire community, Labor says.

Local Labor members Anita Dow and Shane Broad protested the move yesterday after raising questions in parliament.

The hospital has long struggled with staffing — and has depended on locum doctors from interstate to fill gaps in its roster — but their availability has been truncated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Labor member Anita Dow in state parliament.

Ms Dow said the reduction in services was announced by the government at 9pm on Wednesday and would have implications across the health system.

“To issue a press release late at night announcing further cuts to operating hours is very disappointing, when the Minister for Health could have provided an update to the parliament and to the community directly,” Ms Dow said.

The Mersey Community Hospital. Patients were transferred from the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie to the Mersey Community Hospital in Latrobe. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“The government has blamed the decision on the lack of locum staff available to work at the Mersey, yet this is not a new issue and the government should have been working on a plan to address it before the further complications of COVID.”

Mr Broad said the North-West Regional Hospital the government was “taking out the trash’: with its late-night announcement.

“Sending vulnerable patients further away to emergency departments that are already facing their own pressure isn’t demonstrating care – it is treating them with contempt, and increasing pressure on health services right across the north of the state.”

Tasmanian Health Minister Sarah Courtney. Picture Chris Kidd

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the government was determined to provide services that we safe for both people and staff.

“I note that Dr Helen McArdle, the head of the Australian Medical Association, has said that hospitals risked losing doctors from burnout, and ED services at both Mersey and Burnie risked being unsafe without a change of hours.

‘I am not going to sit on advice like that and have unsafe services delivered to the people of the North‑West Coast.

“We are continuing to be focused on recruitment. The Department of Health has been and is actively involved in recruiting for the Mersey, including a staff specialist in emergency medicine, and a career medical officer – emergency medicine.

“We have also a number of active statewide recruitment campaigns under way for staff, including resident medical officers and medical interns, which will benefit the Mersey.”

Follow @DavidJKillick