Staffing situation at the North West Regional’s operating theatre results in Commission directing arbitration

The state’s Industrial Commission has been forced to step in to resolve a dispute between the ANMF and the Department of Health over staffing numbers at a Tasmanian hospital.

Doctors and nurses pulling hospital trolley. Picture: iStock

The Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) has been forced to intervene in a dispute between the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) and the Department of Health regarding staffing at theatres at the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH).

The TIC has directed that the matter be heard in March for arbitration as the ANMF claims there is “chronic understaffing” at NWRH theatres.

But the health department says it is in the midst of a “recruitment blitz” and has hired 1900 workers since April.

North West Regional Hospital. Picture: AAP/Simon Sturzaker

Amid the dispute, a theatre at the NWRH was closed on Friday because of “a reduction of staff.”

“This was due to unplanned leave that could not be backfilled at short notice,” A Department of Health spokesperson said.

“The NWRH has a designated theatre for emergency surgery, and this capacity was maintained.

“In addition to that, the NWRH had one of the two usual theatres open all day for elective procedures.

“Weekend services are operating as normal. No patients have been affected.”

Meanwhile, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said it had raised concerns about what it claimed were unfilled nursing positions in the NWRH theatre complex since December 2019.

“This consistently resulted in members working onerous amount of overtime, Australian College of Peri-operative Nurses (ACORN) standards not being met, shifts being unfilled, and after hours there is increased pressure to complete day cases on emergency lists, often without notice,” Ms Shepherd said.

“In good faith, the ANMF resolved the grievance in 2023 on the basis the agreed additional nursing staff were approved and would be recruited to.

“However, in July 2024, despite approval by senior nursing management for the required additional nursing positions, the ANMF were advised that the business case for the additional nursing staff was not supported by the Department.”

ANMF secretary Emily Shepherd talks to media at the Industrial commission on Monday 23rd December 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson

Following industrial action in August, Ms Shepherd said an update in November from Chief Executive Hospitals North West Paula Hyland explained that the business case was not approved and needed to be reviewed by an external consultant – which would result in delays.

‘The ANMF find this protracted process to be completely outrageous.

“The Tasmanian Health Service – Hospitals North West have known about this matter for years and have wilfully put the health and wellbeing of their staff and potentially patients at risk by not acting to ensure that there are sufficient staff to safely staff their theatres and meet the North West Regional Hospitals Surgical Services demand.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said it acknowledged the ANMF’s concerns.

“We are committed to constructive engagement on any matters of concern, including through the TIC process, to ensure the best healthcare outcomes for Tasmanians.

“Our hospitals have well-established plans in place to ensure that both the care needs of the community and best practice guidelines on staffing numbers are met.

“Since April, the Tasmanian Government has recruited nearly more than 1900 healthcare workers, including nurses, as part of a recruitment blitz.”