The Health Department has ruled out recruiting additional full time equivalent occupational therapists, despite union claims that existing workloads are untenable.
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In a letter sent to Health and Community Services Union state secretary Tim Jacobson on June 20, Health Department secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks admitted the challenges of attracting suitably qualified senior OTs, particularly to regional areas of Tasmania.
It comes after HACSU launched a campaign aimed at drawing attention to what it says is a critical shortage in the state's North, with just one OT servicing the three medical wards at Launceston General Hospital.
In the letter Ms Morgan-Wicks acknowledged HACSU's requests for additional FTEs for Launceston, but said given the challenges of recruiting additional OTs to fill current vacancies, the "immediate focus is on recruiting to the existing establishment".
"I will however ask the executive director of allied health to consider such increases during her discussions with the discipline leads," the letter reads.
"I also acknowledge that the temporary reductions in the number of occupational therapists at the LGH has required the prioritisation of patients to ensure our employees have sustainable and safe workloads."
Last week staff at Launceston's John L Grove Rehabilitation Centre spoke out over fears they would need to further cut services due to a shortage of available OTs, with admitted patients already waiting between six and nine months for care.
Mr Jacobson said the situation remained dire.
"Whilst we welcome the [Health Department] acknowledgment that a serious shortage of staff exists, the matter has been in existence for a significant period," he said.
An acknowledgement will hardly comfort those workers who are struggling under huge service demand right now.
- Tim Jacobson
Ms Morgan-Wick made assurances to Mr Jacobson that over the past two years the department had regularly conducted "comprehensive recruitment efforts, albeit with very limited success".
She said OT discipline leads, human resources and the executive director of allied health were working to establish strategies and approaches to mitigate the challenges, with a meeting planned for today to further progress this work.
"As you are no doubt aware, the University of Tasmania is currently working with us to expand their allied health program to include, among other things, a local occupational therapy degree," the letter reads.
"Understandably this will take time to result in relief in the labour market, however it represents a major and long-term benefit for the Tasmanian community."
Occupational therapy among a number of undergraduate allied health courses not offered at the University of Tasmania.
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Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
