Lengthy year-long negotiations between the hospital and the Health and Community Services Union over their Enterprise Bargaining Agreement have been going on since November 2020.
Mr Jacobson is aware that with staff numbers as they are, the private hospital is ill-equipped to manage if a Covid outbreak occurs.
“We have a private hospital that is well below the average in terms of nursing numbers in particular than the other facilities in Tasmania and are struggling to recruit staff,” Mr Jacobson said.
“What staff want are additional hands on the job on a daily basis to provide some additional support in the event that nursing staff aren’t available for their shifts.”
- Tim Jacobson
With the "unending cycle of crisis” within the public hospital system with reduced hospital beds, overcrowded emergency departments and longer waits for elective surgery, it seems reasonable the state's private sector needs to be 'able and ready' to take the slack, until reforms and funding are overhauled.
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