Twelve beds set to reopen at the Launceston General Hospital this week are lying empty because there are not enough nurses to staff them.
Earlier this month Tasmanian Health Minister Michael Ferguson announced the beds in Ward 4D would open to ease pressure on the struggling Emergency Department as the hospital transitions to a new patient flow system.
An additional 9.58 full-time equivalent nurses would be recruited to staff the beds.
The support plan was due to start on Monday, but Tasmanian secretary of the Nursing and Midwifery Federation Neroli Ellis said the beds had not been reopened.
“At this stage the nurses have not been recruited to staff those beds,” she said.
“It’s been very fortunate that over the weekend the demands have been slightly less, so the pressures [Monday] morning were slightly less for admissions.
“But we were supportive of the position not to open the beds until it’s safe with the appropriate staffing levels in place.”
LGH spokeswoman Sonia Purse said it was unfortunate the beds had not been opened but said the recruitment process for the extra nurses was underway.
“There is a need to ensure safe staffing levels, and additional leave pressure due to the start of school holidays has impacted this,” she said.
“The additional 12 beds in ward 4D will be opened this week.”
Ms Ellis said she doubted the ward would be able to open in that time frame.
“It’s impossible to open up a new ward within two weeks,” Ms Ellis said.
“The minister may not have been aware that the staffing levels have been critically low at the moment at the Launceston General Hospital and there are no excess staff to open another 12 beds.
“Certainly the beds are needed, but it’s very important that they are not staffed by double shifts and overtime.”
Nursing positions at the Launceston General Hospital are being advertised on the Tasmanian Government’s website with a closing date of October 2.