The Tasmanian Health Service has agreed to form a committee to assess whether the Launceston General Hospital's emergency department can cope when interstate borders open to COVID-19.
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The move follows concerns by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Tasmanian Branch that the hospital's ED is overstretched and not adequately prepared for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
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Branch secretary Emily Shepherd said the lack of urgency in implementing COVID-19 preparation ahead of December 15 was "staggering".
"The LGH ED is already on a knife's edge without COVID-19," she said.
The call for more support follows the ANMF lodging an industrial dispute on behalf of the LGH ED in late September, which led to the THS agreeing to recruit agency staff to fill up to 28 full-time equivalent ED nursing positions.
Plans are also in place for a work health and safety review of the entire department, as well as clinical coaches to support the ED's less experienced staff.
When asked about the hospital's preparedness, Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff referenced the site's new 28-bed medical ward, which opened this week.
He also noted other new support systems including increased overnight bed capacity and new staff to help free up beds more quickly. Despite these new efforts, however, the call for more support persists alongside claims that the LGH's ED remains overstretched even without COVID-19.
"Just last week due to an access block, there was not one available ED cubicle and two unwell admitted patients awaiting an inpatient bed were returned to the waiting room to sit in a chair to make way for two emergency patients who had presented," Ms Shepard said
"This is not an ED that is prepared to deal with COVID-19."
Speaking to the concern for beds, Mr Rockliff said a "significant amount of work" had occurred over the past 12 months to ensure the state's hospitals are ready.
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When asked if the forming of the committee should be taken as a sign that the government is concerned about the hospital's ability to cope, Mr Rockliff didn't respond directly.
Mr Rockliff also did not indicate if the findings of the committee would in any way change the planned December 15 opening date.
"We are confident that our state can reopen on December 15 and that our health system is as prepared as it can be," he said.
The government plans to have 152 new beds available statewide by December.
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