SAY NO TO UNSAFE TRANSFERS
The issue
The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch are disappointed with the Government’s agreement between Ambulance Tasmania and the Health and Community Services Union to adopt a mandated 60-minute ambulance offload procedure, set to commence on 18 March 2024. This decision has been made without appropriate consultation or plans for additional nursing resources, posing serious risks to patient care and staff safety.
The acceptance of this proposal by senior management without addressing access, flow and the already over capacity hospitals, is deeply concerning. This petition urges our government to tackle the pressing access and flow challenges in their congested Emergency Departments before implementing a procedure that shifts the workload and risk onto an already fatigued nursing workforce. We insist on the immediate revocation of the procedure, emphasising the need for thorough consideration of its impact on patient safety, the well-being of the nursing workforce, and the community at large.
We call upon the Government to implement the following:
Filling of all vacancies to meet baseline staffing minimums in each Hospital, on every ward/unit.
Increase and or implementation of Clinical Coaches to address skill mix issues, as was promised by the Premier in 2022.
Nurse Navigators for all Emergency Departments (ED).
An additional Triage and Waiting Room Nurse on every shift in each ED.
Commitment to adhere to Nursing Hours per Patient Day/Nursing Hours per Patient Presentation safe staffing requirements.
Dedicated access and flow nurses for complex discharges for every ward and unit.
All ANUM’s on wards backfilled so they are indirect and can focus on patient flow.
Increase in cleaning staff for expedited transfers.
24/7 Radiology, Pathology, and medical teams for timely care to facilitate discharges in each Hospital.
Revision of the Patient Transport Policy or implementation of dedicated transport nurses for patient transfers.
Review of the chaperone policy and consultation on the process for handling of Coroners Cases.
Implement as a minimum Administration support for each Nurse/Midwifery Unit Manager (NUMs/MUM).
Employ 1.4 FTE of NUM’s/MUMs for each acute ward and unit.
That prior to the recommencement to implement the TOC procedure an appropriate consultative process is established that will include the involvement of ANMF nominated Work Representatives, NUM’s/MUM’s, Nursing and Midwifery Directors and Nurses and Midwives.
Sign this petition to convey a resounding message to the Government: we refuse to accept a Procedure that jeopardises patient safety by deeming it acceptable to position unwell patients in unsafe clinical spaces without appropriate clinical oversight. We insist on a more considerate and comprehensive plan for the improvement of our health services in Tasmania. ANMF Nurses, Midwives and AINs will not stand by and allow 20 years of hard-fought Safe Staffing gains to be lost.
Petition Closed
The issue
The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch are disappointed with the Government’s agreement between Ambulance Tasmania and the Health and Community Services Union to adopt a mandated 60-minute ambulance offload procedure, set to commence on 18 March 2024. This decision has been made without appropriate consultation or plans for additional nursing resources, posing serious risks to patient care and staff safety.
The acceptance of this proposal by senior management without addressing access, flow and the already over capacity hospitals, is deeply concerning. This petition urges our government to tackle the pressing access and flow challenges in their congested Emergency Departments before implementing a procedure that shifts the workload and risk onto an already fatigued nursing workforce. We insist on the immediate revocation of the procedure, emphasising the need for thorough consideration of its impact on patient safety, the well-being of the nursing workforce, and the community at large.
We call upon the Government to implement the following:
Filling of all vacancies to meet baseline staffing minimums in each Hospital, on every ward/unit.
Increase and or implementation of Clinical Coaches to address skill mix issues, as was promised by the Premier in 2022.
Nurse Navigators for all Emergency Departments (ED).
An additional Triage and Waiting Room Nurse on every shift in each ED.
Commitment to adhere to Nursing Hours per Patient Day/Nursing Hours per Patient Presentation safe staffing requirements.
Dedicated access and flow nurses for complex discharges for every ward and unit.
All ANUM’s on wards backfilled so they are indirect and can focus on patient flow.
Increase in cleaning staff for expedited transfers.
24/7 Radiology, Pathology, and medical teams for timely care to facilitate discharges in each Hospital.
Revision of the Patient Transport Policy or implementation of dedicated transport nurses for patient transfers.
Review of the chaperone policy and consultation on the process for handling of Coroners Cases.
Implement as a minimum Administration support for each Nurse/Midwifery Unit Manager (NUMs/MUM).
Employ 1.4 FTE of NUM’s/MUMs for each acute ward and unit.
That prior to the recommencement to implement the TOC procedure an appropriate consultative process is established that will include the involvement of ANMF nominated Work Representatives, NUM’s/MUM’s, Nursing and Midwifery Directors and Nurses and Midwives.
Sign this petition to convey a resounding message to the Government: we refuse to accept a Procedure that jeopardises patient safety by deeming it acceptable to position unwell patients in unsafe clinical spaces without appropriate clinical oversight. We insist on a more considerate and comprehensive plan for the improvement of our health services in Tasmania. ANMF Nurses, Midwives and AINs will not stand by and allow 20 years of hard-fought Safe Staffing gains to be lost.
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Petition created on 7 March 2024