❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Minister for Health regarding a nurse working a 29.5-hour shift at Albany Health Campus and fatigue management. The Minister condemns the incident, outlines actions taken, and refers to existing workplace safety legislation.
AnsweredQoN 394Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ALBANY HEALTH CAMPUS — NURSE SHIFTS
394. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to
the Minister for Health:
I
refer to reports in The West Australian today that a nurse at Albany
Health Campus recently undertook a 29.5-hour triple shift and concerns
it is not an isolated incident.
(1) How often are
nurses being asked to undertake this dangerous practice and how is this safe
for patients or staff?
(2) What reviews of fatigue
management are being undertaken?
(3) Does the minister support calls
for legislation banning triple shifts in hospitals; and, if not, why not?
394. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to
the Minister for Health:
I
refer to reports in The West Australian today that a nurse at Albany
Health Campus recently undertook a 29.5-hour triple shift and concerns
it is not an isolated incident.
(1) How often are
nurses being asked to undertake this dangerous practice and how is this safe
for patients or staff?
(2) What reviews of fatigue
management are being undertaken?
(3) Does the minister support calls
for legislation banning triple shifts in hospitals; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. I start by absolutely, categorically
agreeing that it is completely unacceptable that a nurse would do a triple
shift—completely unacceptable. It is a very rare occurrence. Having
said that, no-one should feel obliged to stay, whether they do it of their own
accord or whether they are asked to. It should not occur. Even if someone
elects to stay, they need to be told to go home. I am very clear about that. I have
been absolutely clear about that with every health service provider and the Department
of Health. In this particular instance, essentially the nurse involved was
directed to go home. There was a miscommunication and she did not go home. It
was not due to short staffing. They were adequately staffed and there were
staff there. WA Country Health Service has investigated exactly what occurred,
so there has been a thorough investigation. They were not short-staffed at the
time. The direction was given for the member to finish their shift as scheduled
but an error occurred through a miscommunication at handover, which resulted in
the staff member working more hours than they should. The health service
provider has taken immediate action to make sure it does not happen again,
including changes to overtime protocol at the hospital and have apologised to
the staff member involved. They have also communicated openly and transparently
with the Australian Nursing Federation on the matter.
A strategy has also been implemented to ensure that all overtime and extra
shifts are approved by hospital executives during the day and by the
on-call executive after-hours. The process for managing fatigue and overtime
has since been reiterated with leaders to ensure they are well aware of their
responsibilities when managing staff overtime. Information relating to double
shifts is also included in a highly visible reporting system that has executive
oversight. That will help prevent further occurrences at Albany Health Campus.
Fatigue management and staff wellbeing are at the forefront of everything that
they do. This was an isolated incident. It is not acceptable for anyone to
either elect to or be asked to work a double shift, whether they are agency or
paid employees.
(3) On the matter
of legislation, legislation already exists about safe workloads and safe
practices. In fact, it is excellent legislation that was brought in by the
current Minister for Industrial Relations about safe workplaces. Under that,
safe work practices, including workload, are already regulated by the work
health and safety legislation that was introduced by this government. There is
an obligation on the employer to eliminate unsafe work practices and on the
worker to take reasonable care for their own safety and health and make sure
they do not affect the health and safety of others. Individuals can and should
refuse a shift if they feel it is unsafe. They can and should raise the matter
with their manager. They can and should raise it with WorkSafe and the union.
thank the member for the question. I start by absolutely, categorically
agreeing that it is completely unacceptable that a nurse would do a triple
shift—completely unacceptable. It is a very rare occurrence. Having
said that, no-one should feel obliged to stay, whether they do it of their own
accord or whether they are asked to. It should not occur. Even if someone
elects to stay, they need to be told to go home. I am very clear about that. I have
been absolutely clear about that with every health service provider and the Department
of Health. In this particular instance, essentially the nurse involved was
directed to go home. There was a miscommunication and she did not go home. It
was not due to short staffing. They were adequately staffed and there were
staff there. WA Country Health Service has investigated exactly what occurred,
so there has been a thorough investigation. They were not short-staffed at the
time. The direction was given for the member to finish their shift as scheduled
but an error occurred through a miscommunication at handover, which resulted in
the staff member working more hours than they should. The health service
provider has taken immediate action to make sure it does not happen again,
including changes to overtime protocol at the hospital and have apologised to
the staff member involved. They have also communicated openly and transparently
with the Australian Nursing Federation on the matter.
A strategy has also been implemented to ensure that all overtime and extra
shifts are approved by hospital executives during the day and by the
on-call executive after-hours. The process for managing fatigue and overtime
has since been reiterated with leaders to ensure they are well aware of their
responsibilities when managing staff overtime. Information relating to double
shifts is also included in a highly visible reporting system that has executive
oversight. That will help prevent further occurrences at Albany Health Campus.
Fatigue management and staff wellbeing are at the forefront of everything that
they do. This was an isolated incident. It is not acceptable for anyone to
either elect to or be asked to work a double shift, whether they are agency or
paid employees.
(3) On the matter
of legislation, legislation already exists about safe workloads and safe
practices. In fact, it is excellent legislation that was brought in by the
current Minister for Industrial Relations about safe workplaces. Under that,
safe work practices, including workload, are already regulated by the work
health and safety legislation that was introduced by this government. There is
an obligation on the employer to eliminate unsafe work practices and on the
worker to take reasonable care for their own safety and health and make sure
they do not affect the health and safety of others. Individuals can and should
refuse a shift if they feel it is unsafe. They can and should raise the matter
with their manager. They can and should raise it with WorkSafe and the union.
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