20 October 2020
ANMF (SA Branch) members have had a win in their fight for safe staffing in the Cardiac Care Unit at Flinders Medical Centre.
Members had raised concerns about increasing patient acuity and workloads in the middle of 2019 and began canvassing the issues with ANMF officers.
It was made clear that members in the Cardiac Care Unit at FMC were under an enormous amount of stress and pressure, which was resulting in no meal breaks, late finishes and double shifts. Members re-focused their efforts in reporting all missed and delayed care, as well as escalating for more staff whenever it was required.
Currently SALHN have continued to disagree with members that there is a problem with base staffing, rather focusing on peripheral issues such as education. However, members have remained steadfast in their documenting and reporting of missed or delayed care, as well as requesting extra staff when required.
Through this constant pressure from members, SALHN have provided an interim increase of one additional nurse on each shift, for a period of three months, while negotiations continue.
While this is not a final agreement and it is still less than our assessed need, it is a great step in the right direction and represents a win for members while they continue their fight for safe staffing in the CCU.