3 July 2020
The ANMF (SA Branch) has expressed alarm over reports local health networks are moving to axe South Australian nurses and staff through Voluntary Separation Packages (VSPs).
The VSPs are part of a cost-cutting exercise implemented last year across the SA health system.
The VSPs, inviting staff to put up their hands for redundancy payouts, were put on hold when the coronavirus pandemic emergency was declared. In total 395 staff applied, about 150 of them nurses, with 377 packages still to be taken.
In February The Advertiser revealed cutbacks including voluntary separation offers at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital led to 215 WCH doctors signing a letter warning its services were at the “point of collapse”.
However, the ANMF (SA Branch) understands local health networks are now beginning to process the VSPs expressions of interest and in some cases seeking to extend for new expressions of interest.
“We are deeply disappointed and concerned that the VSPs have essentially been greenlighted,’’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj. Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
She said the ANMF (SA Branch) had recently received a commitment from the Central Adelaide Local Health Network that protected existing staff and ratios.
“We’ll be seeking similar commitments from the other local health networks to protect the quality and care of patients,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“If nursing positions are lost then there could be cuts to the volume of services across the state.
“It is disturbing that the State Government is moving to axe health staff when we are still in a state of pandemic emergency.
“As we have seen in Victoria, the coronavirus situation remains completely volatile and unpredictable.’’