By MATT NICHOLLS
WORKING conditions at the Armidale Hospital are considered unbearable and unacceptable, but staff say they are too scared to go public with their concerns.
As the hospital waits for the Federal Government to cough up $50 million for its redevelopment, staff are concerned for both their safety and the wellbeing of patients.
Fearing their jobs would be put at risk by talking to the media, several nurses and doctors declined to speak to the Armidale Independent last week.
All of them said the hospital desperately needed the redevelopment, but none wanted to speak in any detail.
One nurse agreed to be interviewed, on the strict criteria of anonymity, and said that she and her colleagues were “seriously concerned” about the condition of the hospital building and the current working conditions.
“There are some major issues with the hospital, particularly the emergency department,” she said.
“Most people wouldn’t be aware, but there is only one nurse rostered on to work the night shift from Monday to Thursday.”
That shift is usually a 12-hour stint from 7pm to 7am and can be one of the most stressful, the nurse said.
“Unless it’s a really quiet night, you might not get time to have a break,” she said.
“If you’re in a serious car accident or are having a heart attack, it is not the safest time to be taken to Armidale Hospital.
“Nursing staff in the emergency ward have sent petition after petition to management, but have had no response.”
However, Hunter New England Health’s director of acute networks Todd McEwan believed Armidale Hospital was staffed adequately.
“The emergency department is staffed according to demand, with additional staff rostered on during periods of peak activity,” he said.
“A doctor is rostered on in the emergency department 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Staff at Armidale Hospital provide a great service to the community and the hospital consistently performs well. For example, the hospital’s NEAT (national emergency access target) performance is well above the state target.”
The nurse agree the calibre of nursing staff at the hospital was “first-class”, but added that medical professionals were only as good as the support around them.
“It doesn’t matter how amazing a nurse is if they don’t have the equipment or colleagues to back them up,” she said.
Other issues at the hospital raised by the nurse include the “sweltering” conditions in the surgical and medical wards.
“For some reason they say they can’t install air conditioning in there and instead have a big industrial fan at the end of the hallway,” she said.
“I’ve seen staff standing at windows at 3am to cool down.
“What kind of environment is that for doctors, nurses and patients?
“I think it would be hard to get better if you’re sweating in 30-degree heat.”
Mr McEwan said Hunter News England Health was committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for patients and staff .
“Most of Armidale Hospital is air-conditioned with the exception of the surgical and medical wards and some areas of the maternity ward,” he said.
“Those rooms without air-conditioning are fitted with wall fans.
“Portable coolers and additional fans can also be provided at the patient’s request and windows as well as doors on the balcony can be opened.”
