Union Brands LGH Emergency Department "Chaotic and Unsafe" Amidst Overflow

The nurses' union has described scenes at the Launceston General Hospital's emergency department as dangerously overcrowded, while the state and federal governments dispute responsibility for the crisis.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has labelled the Launceston General Hospital’s (LGH) emergency department “chaotic and unsafe” after it became severely overcrowded on Monday night. The union reported that more than 70 patients were crammed into the department, with 40 yet to be allocated a bed.

ANMF Tasmanian branch secretary Emily Shepherd said that union members at the LGH contacted the ANMF for assistance on Monday as they contended with high patient numbers and insufficient resources. “When the ANMF attended the ED last night, there was only one resuscitation bay left in the entire department, with many patients in the waiting room needing an urgent bed but no capacity to move them,” Ms Shepherd stated. The union said it contacted senior hospital management, which resulted in six in-patient beds being freed up and additional medical support being organised.

Ms Shepherd described the situation as a “regular occurrence” for the hospital’s staff. The ANMF is calling for systemic changes, including 24/7 hospital diagnostic support and more community nursing and mental health services, to address what it sees as recurring crises.

State Health Minister Bridget Archer acknowledged the pressure on the health system. She attributed much of the problem to difficulties in discharging patients who are medically ready to leave but have no place to go, awaiting residential aged care or NDIS support. According to the Minister, nearly 100 such patients are occupying beds across Tasmania, equivalent to three hospital wards.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, speaking on ABC Radio, said he had heard similar stories about the LGH for “year after year”. He suggested the Tasmanian Government needs to pay closer attention to the hospital’s patient flow systems and staffing. Mr Butler stated that the federal government is providing record funding to Tasmania’s hospitals, with a 20 per cent increase this year compared to the previous agreement, amounting to an increase from $750 million to $910 million.

The ANMF is set to return to the Tasmanian Industrial Commission on Wednesday for a hearing regarding the state government’s transfer of care policy.

This story was originally reported by ABC News.