Workforce shortages will see operating hours reduced at Jerilderie and Batlow Multi Purpose Services.
From next Monday, April 11 the emergency department at both services will cease operating overnight between 10pm and 7am.
Patients needing emergency care have instead been advised to present at Finley Hospital or phone 000 and request an ambulance.
The changes are subject to a six-weekly review. MLHD is expected to issue updated guidance on opening hours by Monday, June 6.
Cootamundra Hospital will also be affected, with about 50 ‘non-essential’ elective surgical patients redirected to adjacent services.
“The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) advises that temporary changes to services will take place at three of the District’s health facilities over the coming weeks to address workforce shortages,” MLHD said in a statement yesterday.
“In addition to these shortages, further pressures to staffing are now occurring due to furloughed staff and unplanned leave caused by rising levels of COVID-19 transmission in the community.”
MLHD says the reduced operations will offer reprieve to remaining staff.
Jerilderie Cluster Manager Craig McColm said there will still be staff present at the MPS overnight, who will be able to facilitate access to appropriate care as required.
“We have 12 aged care residents who call our MPS home, so we have nursing staff on site around the clock providing personalised care for them,” said Mr McColm.
“We currently have an average of 3-5 presentations to the emergency department a month overnight at Jerilderie MPS. If a patient does present to the ED we have a clear process in place to assess them and determine the most appropriate course of action so that they get the care they need.”
Niamh Webb is a member of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Tumut branch.
“Batlow relies heavily upon remote doctors, which adds a lot of extra stress and responsibility to its nursing staff,” she explained.
“My understanding is there have been a lot of changes in positions, or nurses moving to different roles at other facilities.
“My understanding is that they were looking to work at larger facilities, which offered better working conditions.”
Ms Webb was understanding of MLHDs decision, suggesting it would relieve stress on current staff.
She did, however, express concern that not enough would be done to publicises the reduced hours.
“I know they have their information on Facebook but we get a lot of tourists visiting Batlow who wouldn’t necessarily see those posts,” she said.
“Most people, will just look for a sign saying ‘emergency’ and go there.”
The NSWNMA is embroiled in an ongoing dispute with the state government, and have staged unsanctioned protests as recently as last Thursday.
Among the list of the union’s demands — which includes a pay rise of at least 2.5 per cent — none is more important than the introduction of minimum nurse to patient ratios.
Similar ratios have been a staple of hospitals in both Victoria and Queensland since 2015.
Both states require nurses to care for no more than four patients per shift.
Last year researchers found that Queensland’s policy had reduced both death and readmissions by seven per cent.
The research was conducted by the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with the Queensland University of Technology.
For the meantime, MLHD claims to have introduced a taskforce to address current shortages.
“MLHD has established a critical vacancy taskforce to work on short and medium-term solutions to boost workforce capacity,” the district said in a statement.
“As well as recruiting staff to permanent positions a number of health care workers from outside the district will be redeployed to Jerilderie on temporary contracts.
“MLHD assures the Jerilderie community that restoring 24 hour emergency department services is a priority.
“The arrangements will be reviewed every four weeks and an update will be provided to the community on June 6.”