Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary Neroli Ellis met with LGH nurses on Friday and said staff believed patients were at risk since the resignation, retirement or reduction of hours of nine emergency department consultants.

Mrs Ellis said nurses wanted resources, an immediate audit of patient risk and indemnity.

“Nurses are absolutely unanimous there is a clear patient safety risk at the moment because of the current situation with the loss of their medical colleagues,” she said. “The whole issue arises due to budget cuts and closing medical wards and closing medical beds.”

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the suggestion patients were at risk was false. 

He said the THS was actively recruiting for the positions and working with staff to identify areas of improvement in emergency, including undertaking an audit of the beds available in the ward and implementing measures aimed at improving patients’ experiences. 

“It certainly shouldn’t be linked to a lack of resourcing because those positions continue to be funded and that will enable the THS to persuade people to either reconsider their position, or to recruit to the vacant positions,” he said. “What’s important is we ensure our staff feel happy to work in the emergency department and we can do that through our ... whole-of-hospital solutions.”