25 February 2021
Nurses have called for the suspension of elective surgery at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital over concerns about safety and fatigue.
It’s understood exhausted nurses are fearful errors could occur and that young patients’ safety could be compromised.
The nurses say some staff are working more than 100 hours a fortnight, just as a COVID baby boom kicks in, The Advertiser reports.
Hospital officials have told the ANMF (SA Branch) the WCH is “experiencing unprecedented demand for hospital beds”.
In response, a letter from the ANMF (SA Branch) to WCH chief executive Lindsey Gough, obtained by The Advertiser, warns of serious concerns about fatigue and safety and a “significant shortfall of nurses to fill the base rosters.”
The letter says over the past fortnight the union has received an “extraordinary” number of contacts from members.
“Members state that nurses have been working significant hours, up to over 100 hours a fortnight. They are concerned about their ability to maintain these hours due to stress, fatigue and the need to meet AHPRA requirements and responsibilities,” the letter states.
“Many members feel obliged to do double shifts and extended shifts to support their colleagues in managing the workload and provide care to their child in their care.
“Members are physically and emotionally fatigued. They feel they can no longer take on extra shifts and they state that patient care is being compromised.”
The letter warns of concern that surgery is being commenced on Saturdays when the base roster for theatre surgery is unable to be staffed during the week.
“We do not believe that you are able to adequately resource the surgical department,” it states.
“Therefore we suggest that all elective surgery is ceased until such a time that you can adequately staff the hospital without staff needing to work excessive hours.”
The Advertiser understands an elective operating list of endoscopies was cancelled this week because there were not enough nurses, resulting in children who had a two-day bowel preparation being sent home.
ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM told media that nurses and midwives at WCH were being spread too thin and were desperate for positive solutions to keep them and their patients safe.
“WCH nurses and midwives have a strong sense of duty to their patients and each other,” she said.
“They do not want to let each other or their patients down – but they are fearful that errors will occur and patients will suffer if the issues of understaffing and fatigue are not urgently addressed.
“We are concerned that there simply are not enough staff rostered on every shift to meet demand. Casual and part-time are subsequently inundated with requests to work more shifts including double-shifts.
“Double shifts are not safe due to the risk of fatigue but nor is it acceptable for the staff to work short. Mistakes happen when staff are stretched too thin and/or fatigued. Mistakes with such a vulnerable client group could be catastrophic.
“Even when nurses and midwives are not at work they are inundated with requests to return or work more.”
Ms Dabars said the ANMF (SA Branch) did not believe WCH had a plan to address the issues of understaffing or fatigue.
"We are seeking that they urgently develop and implement a plan to address the short, medium and long term issues. In the short term, we understand that there are simply not enough staff to safely provide elective surgery procedures at the hospital and have asked the hospital to consider their capacity to offer this service,” she said.
“We understand that the hospital has been experiencing additional demands with managing COVID and gastro, but these demands will only increase given the need to utilise existing staff for the COVID vaccination programs plus the seasonal increase expected over winter with respiratory illnesses.
“Nurses and midwives are fatigued, morale is at a troubling low and nurses and midwives are worried about the immediate and long-term impact on their patients and each other.
“We are working closely with our members and have sought and will continue to seek solutions to address these concerns with the hospital executive.”