25 March 2021
ANMF (SA Branch) officers, led by Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj. Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM, met with Health Minister Stephen Wade to again demand urgent action on issues of crushing hospital demand, bed blockage and the devastating impact on nursing and midwifery staff which has seen many leave the profession.
“Most of the issues raised were the subject of a series of meetings the ANMF (SA Branch) and other unions had held with Mr Wade shortly after his ministerial appointment and that had led to his agreement to take action more than two years ago,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“If anything the problems facing the hospital system have only worsened over time and health professionals feel little is being done to address the chronic overcrowding and overwhelming demand for services, leading to ramping, immense pressure on staffing and resources, discharge blockage and increased use of temporary contracts and casual staff.”
The ANMF has asked the Minister to take responsibility for the production of an urgent plan and clear framework for how the health system is to address the issue of demand for hospital services in SA and the life-threatening consequences of ramping and delayed and missed care.
“We have people living with disabilities who have been housed in Lyell McEwin Hospital for 18 months and two years respectively, continually lashing out at staff,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“Both of these people require security specialling as well as care staff as a consequence of behavioural issues and violence. Their continuing location in a hospital is not only inappropriate (if not inhumane) for their own accommodation and support but also places nurses at daily risk and makes already scarce hospital beds unavailable for patients waiting in emergency departments to access them.
“We have hospitals around the state routinely operating overcapacity, health services under-resourced with our frontline workers and community being put at risk. It is a recipe for disaster, yet the Marshall Government seems to be taking little action to address these serious concerns,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“We have heard about the tragic case of a patient death at Lyell McEwin Hospital last November due to missed care,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“We desperately need to increase the number of permanent nursing and midwifery staff to meet the demand and activity of the hospitals.
“We expressed our grave concern to the Minister that this missed or delayed care experience was not isolated, but a daily occurrence and that it is only a matter of time before further deaths occur.
We strongly encourage you to read the full details from the meeting, including our clear demands to Minister Wade on the urgent action that must be taken:
Demands to Minister Wade on the urgent action that must be taken