Page 2852 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 17 September 2014
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In response to point 1 of the PIN, there are a couple of different areas here. In relation to point 1, management has, as an interim measure, increased the staffing levels at the adult mental health unit. The intention is to keep staffing levels increased while further work is done and negotiations and discussions are had around the safety of staff within the unit to the following levels: nine staff on the morning shift, which is one additional nurse; nine staff on the afternoon shift, which is one additional nurse; and seven staff on the evening shift and one wards person, which equals one additional nurse. Since 25 July 2014 there have been an additional 2.3 staff on each of the morning, afternoon and evening shifts providing one-to-one nursing care. This is in addition to the interim increase of staffing level done in good faith following the receipt of the provisional improvement notice. The currently endorsed model of care, which did go through quite a round of discussion and consultation, has eight staff on morning and eight staff on afternoon and six staff on the evening and one wards person.
In response to point 2, management will be working through a number of different strategies with staff to increase their safety, and this work is ongoing. The issue of the permanent increase in staffing levels referred to in the PIN is an industrial issue and I do not think anyone doubts that. The issue of their staffing will be progressed through the existing industrial framework of the directorate consultative committee or the DCC and the reasonable workload committee or the RWC. The work associated with the application of nursing hours per patient day to mental health inpatient units through the DCC commenced earlier this year.
The nursing hours per patient days are used across most areas of the Canberra Hospital, and the Chief Nurse has agreed and will be doing the work for the development of a nursing hours per patient day for the staffing profile for the mental health inpatient units as a priority. This work will include external benchmarking against four other jurisdictions, which include Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
In response to point 3 in the PIN, ACT Health expects to be provided with the post-occupancy evaluation report in the first week of October—6 October. The delivery of the report is delayed as additional staff, I think for a number of reasons, including additional staff sessions, were requested to allow staff from the morning, afternoon and evening shifts to participate in the process.
In the time that is allowed to me, there have been a number of consultation processes underway across staff and management to discuss the issues that have been raised by staff through the PIN notice. In relation to the first item of the PIN notice, that matter has been completed. In relation to the second item of the PIN notice, that is being managed outside the PIN as an industrial issue. Within the third one about the post-occupancy evaluation, this will be required to adjust the timeframe for this recommendation but is agreed along those timetables.
In terms of the amendment that I have moved, I do not think it takes away from what Mrs Jones is seeking here but I do not believe that another review is required. I think the issues are well understood. Contrary to what Mrs Jones said in her speech, I do not
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