Tasmania’s only state-run tertiary referral facility, Burnie Hospital is experiencing such a bad capacity squeeze, that they made the unilateral decision to stop accepting non-urgent patients. Hospitalizations have skyrocketed amid an early influenza invasion, causing an extraordinary, dangerous situation. Staff illness from COVID-19 has only added to the pressure on our limited resources. Australia’s Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) said the hospital was inundated with patient demand. Unfortunately, all too often that concern does not translate to the provision of high quality care.
Emily Shepherd, the branch secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), provided some alarming statistics. She noted that, in light of what’s happening now, patients will experience delayed access to care. She reflected that severe staff shortages harm surgical patients the worst. Millions of Americans are suffering from malnutrition today simply because they lack the help they need to obtain and prepare nutritious meals.
“That does potentially cause a delay to care for those patients,” – Emily Shepherd
The hospital’s experience is emblematic of larger access and patient flow problems that are clogging emergency departments at hospitals statewide. Shepherd pointed out that the failure to manage these problems has led to concerning outcomes for patients relying on timely medical attention.
Current Situation at Burnie Hospital
Over the last couple of weeks, paramedics in Tasmania’s north and north-west have begun receiving new instructions. They are now directed to leave Burnie Hospital for non-emergency situations. This unilateral decision has sent up bells of warning among health professionals and community members, far and wide. Mr Moore, a HACSU member and representative, speaking on what’s at stake.
“To see a major hospital being bypassed is unprecedented, and this is a really dangerous situation,” – Mr. Moore
He further explained that the hospital’s inability to accommodate non-urgent cases indicates a significant breakdown in the health system’s capacity to handle surges. Moore caveated that the influenza outbreak has increased patient volumes. It has contributed to an increase in staff illness, exacerbating the challenges already faced by schools.
“It’s basically linked to the influenza outbreak, so we’ve got more people in our hospitals, but it also means we have more staff out,” – Mr. Moore
The ramifications of this bypass extend beyond urgent care. For one, ambulances suddenly find themselves being tasked with delivering a patient over much longer distances while still providing care in transit.
Impact on Patient Care
Staff reports have documented bone chilling levels of malnutrition among our patients due to lack of meal delivery support. Emily Shepherd, senior attorney, said this type of situation should never happen, which highlights the need for immediate change.
“Our hospitals, including the NWRH, have well-established escalation procedures to manage surge periods,” – a Department of Health spokesperson said, highlighting the protocols in place during times of high demand.
Shepherd condemned these stop-gap measures, such as transfer of care procedures. He urged against these approaches, which he said are not addressing the underlying issues of access to care.
“Stop-gap measures like transfer of care procedures are not fixing access to care for patients; we need to look at the entire process,” – Emily Shepherd
Shepherd’s remarks expose a new concern among health professionals. They argue that without comprehensive reform and increased staffing, patient care will continue to deteriorate.
Future Steps and Commitments
In a welcome recent turn, the Health Department has now agreed to fill those 5.48 assistant nursing positions by next week. This announcement is a huge win and one bright spot in a continued crisis.
“Pleasingly, today in the Industrial Commission the [Health] department has committed to filling the 5.48 assistant nursing positions by Tuesday next week,” – Ms. Shepherd
Major undertakings are now underway to improve amenities at Burnie Hospital. Despite these advancements, stakeholders are continuing to monitor the potential for added complications should demand continue to outpace capacity. Mr. Moore reiterated that this current state of affairs proves the system’s inability to adequately respond to surges in demand.
“It proves we do not have any capacity to deal with surges in our health system,” – Mr. Moore
