1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: We know that the Australian Nursing and midwiff Ree Federation 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: last month raised concerns on this show about a staff 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: shortage in Alie Springs and safety concerns at the hospital. 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Now joining me on the show to give us a 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: bit of an update is Cap Hatcher from the Nursing 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: and midwiff Re Federation shares the branch secretary. Good morning 7 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: to you, Cas. 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie and to your listeners. 9 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,319 Speaker 1: Kat Has there been any improvement to the situation in 10 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: Alice Springs. 11 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: A little approvement where the presentations to the emergency department 12 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:39,599 Speaker 2: over the last few weeks has fallen compared to the 13 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:43,279 Speaker 2: previous eight weeks. So that's a little bit of a 14 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: reprieve with admissions into the hospital and presentations to the 15 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: emergency department. But apart from that, the asking of extra 16 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: staff on the ground with either nurses or patient care assistants. 17 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: That hasn't happened yet, but they're working very hard to facilitate. 18 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: That now, Kas, I understand you've obviously been in Alice 19 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: a couple on a couple of occasions recently. I understand 20 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: that the Chief Minister was there earlier this week as well, 21 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: were there any sort of significant movements or changes to 22 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: what the government is doing to really try to get 23 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: things moving to fill those jobs. 24 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: So when I was there about three half weeks ago, 25 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 2: the actual hospital had about one hundred and thirty full 26 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: time equivalent shortage of nurses and midwives and currently it's 27 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: now one hundred and forty four full time equivalent down, 28 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 2: which is a shocking figure. But there was others that 29 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 2: they did tell us back three four weeks ago that 30 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 2: they were in the process of leaving, so that was expected. 31 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 2: They're trying to get recruiting for permanent staff and they're 32 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 2: recruiting for agency staff to fill the vacancies as much 33 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 2: as they can. Yes, there is some coming and there 34 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 2: is some more new graduates starting shortly, so that is 35 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 2: going to put some more feed on the ground with 36 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: help clinically, and they are working with us. They are 37 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 2: working with the chief nurse and midwifree officer and now 38 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 2: the Health Minister to try and facilitate the recruitment process 39 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 2: in a much quicker format and getting people on the 40 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: ground asap. But the other issue is accommodation in tenant 41 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 2: in Alice Springs as well. 42 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: So Kat before I get to the accommodation. I do 43 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: just want to ask you, I mean, one hundred and 44 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: forty four full time equivalent staff down, how on earth 45 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: do you do your job day in and day out 46 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 1: when you are that volume of staff short? 47 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 2: Very difficult, and all the staff are doing you know, 48 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 2: three to four extra shifts per week, so they're working 49 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,839 Speaker 2: on a full time scale plus they're also doing three 50 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 2: to four extra shifts a week, whether that's a full 51 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 2: shift or a six hour shift, but that is very tiring. 52 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: They've been doing that for twelve to fifteen months now, 53 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 2: and some of them told me on Monday that they'll 54 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: just have to try and cut back on that because 55 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 2: they are exhausted and they're wanting to, you know, save 56 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 2: their physical and mental well being and they're needing to 57 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: drop that, which some of the managers are making sure 58 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 2: that no one's doing any more of the one or 59 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: two extras a week because that's a long time to 60 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 2: be able to facilitate, you know, sixty seventy hours a 61 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 2: week of work for a long time. 62 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: I reckon, honestly, it would be so tough. Cas Now, 63 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 1: talk me through the calls that you've made. When it 64 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 1: does come to accommodation in Alae Springs. 65 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 2: So it was alarmed to me three to four weeks 66 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 2: ago when I was there that it's really easy to 67 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: buy a home in Ala Springs. Yep, there would be 68 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 2: about two hundred houses that are up for sale at 69 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: the moment, but none of them, if all. Sorry I 70 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 2: say that again, there is probably none available for renting 71 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: in Ala Springs currently, so that's a real problem. And 72 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 2: I know the accommodation A new accommodation block is almost 73 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,679 Speaker 2: about to be completed over the next couple of months. 74 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 2: That will help relieve some of the short term situation 75 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 2: of getting staff to come and putting them up anywhere 76 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 2: from a month to six or twelve months. But also 77 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 2: the facility that accommodates the doctors and the nurses, or 78 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,239 Speaker 2: more so the doctors on campus needs renovating when they've 79 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 2: perhaps transferred those doctors to the new accommodation, so it's 80 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 2: kind of catch twenty two. There's a new building being 81 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: built and those doctors will go over to the new building, 82 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 2: but the one that they're currently living in apparently needs 83 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 2: some renovations, and hopefully that will be done as soon 84 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 2: as possible, so there will be some relief, but I 85 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 2: feel that the government probably need to buy a good 86 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 2: dozen how houses that can accommodate three staff in any 87 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 2: one time, that can share a house and share share 88 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: a communal kitchen to be able to get the staff 89 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: to come and work in Alice Springs. 90 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I mean there needs to actually there needs to 91 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: be accommodation. They need to feel safe. I know that 92 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: the Chief Minister had told nine News earlier in the 93 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: week that there was a number of factors contributing to 94 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: staff shortages and that COVID was one of them. Kath, 95 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 1: would you say, when it comes to the staff shortage 96 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: that's being experienced right now at the Alic Springs Hospital, 97 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: would you say COVID is the main factory. Would you 98 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: say that personal safety and the concerns around safety have 99 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: been the major factor. 100 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 2: I think it's a multi factoral problem. So if you 101 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 2: go back to twenty nineteen, the shortage of staff in 102 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 2: Alice Springs Hospital just for nurses and midwives were sitting 103 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 2: around three to five percent vacancy rate, and they had 104 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 2: been really well in twenty plus years. Are not relying 105 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 2: on many agencies up to that point, and then you've 106 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 2: got twenty twenty twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two 107 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 2: with COVID. Now, they did increase a little bit in 108 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 2: that first year to two and they percentage of vacancies 109 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,239 Speaker 2: went up to eight percent initially and then fifteen percent. 110 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 2: And then when about twelve fifteen months ago, the whole 111 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 2: of Australia opened up and it was much easier to 112 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 2: be able to go back into state where you've come from, 113 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: or back overseas, and for those staff that haven't been 114 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: back home to their country or the interstate to their 115 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: home for the past two or three years, they were 116 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 2: able to facilitate that easily, and they did and they 117 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: worried about not being able to get through COVID without 118 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 2: going to six family, et cetera. So a lot of 119 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 2: movement in that space happened, and that increase that to 120 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 2: you know, fifty sixty percent, sorry, not fifty sixty percent, 121 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 2: more like twenty to thirty percent, and then then it's 122 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 2: jumped up in the last fifteen months more so to 123 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 2: the nearly fifty percent now, which is what we're experiencing, 124 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 2: and that is due to perhaps the enterprise agreement that 125 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 2: we're still on the table with the Commissioner there's no 126 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 2: finalization of that yet. Other states are offering bonuses to 127 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: come and sign on, will give you ten thousand dollar bonus, 128 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 2: and then stay another year, will give you another bonus. 129 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 2: So those types of attractions have happened as well. 130 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: And then you don't have an impact. 131 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, and then you've got the violence and whatever else 132 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: is happening within the town of Alice Springs, and you know, 133 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 2: the drinking, etcetera. And the increased work of the hospital. 134 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 2: They've become fatigued. There hasn't been in any leeway, so 135 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 2: they know that they can get extra money into state, 136 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 2: so they've gone as well. 137 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: Kat, I am running out of time, but I want 138 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: to ask you. I know you've said the one hundred 139 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: and forty four full time staff equivalent down in Alice Springs. 140 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: How are we tracking here at the Royal Darwin Hospital. 141 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 2: About two weeks ago, the executive director of nursing said 142 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: about fifteen percent. But I want to know what that 143 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 2: fifteen percent looks like in full time equivalents. And I 144 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: haven't looked at that, yeah, right, that answer yet. So 145 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 2: I do know that some areas are really struggling, like 146 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 2: maternity and renal areas and some other areas are doing okay, 147 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 2: but yes they are struggling, but not to the extent 148 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 2: that Alice Springs is at the moment. 149 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: KAT just a very quick one. I know that there 150 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,319 Speaker 1: had been a worry in back in Alice Spring Rings 151 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: as well about not being able to get cleaners at 152 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: the hospital, and as we know, that can actually have 153 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: ramifications in a lot of different ways when you are 154 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: working in clinical settings. Has that been raised with you 155 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: or is it still an issue. 156 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 2: I haven't had that specific point raised to me, but 157 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 2: I do know that they are down in all type 158 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 2: of extra areas like Allied Health, and I would say 159 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 2: in the cleaners and kitchen staff and store stuff as well. 160 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 2: I do know the stores are low in numbers as well, 161 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 2: so that's impacting the nurses needing to unpack stock in 162 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 2: their own awards. Normally it's the store people that do that, 163 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 2: so it's fallen back onto the nurses. And there is 164 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 2: a lack of social workers, physiotherapists, etc. So some of 165 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 2: that work then falls back onto the nurses to try 166 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:05,079 Speaker 2: and facilitate that as well. So it's really a whole 167 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 2: compounding problem. 168 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: It's a big job. It is a massive job. For 169 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: our wonderful Northern Territory nurses and all of those health 170 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 1: staff and the support staff as well. Kath Hatcher, I 171 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: really appreciate you having a chat with us this morning. 172 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 1: No doubt we'll talk again in the very near future. 173 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: Thank you for coming on the show. 174 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 2: You're very welcome. Thank you, Katie, thank you.