Deadly NW outbreak a health system failure: Labor

LABOR says a lack of PPE gear, inadequate staff training and an underprepared health system contributed to the North-West COVID-19 outbreak.

State Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell has highlighted the need for public servant protections in her party’s submission to the Independent Review of the Response to the North-West Tasmania COVID-19 Outbreak.

“In the absence of explicit protections, it is likely that health workers will not participate in the inquiry or, if they do, their submissions may not be as detailed and important learnings may be lost,” Ms

Lovell said. She said broadening the scope of inquiry beyond the North-West Coast could also illuminate evidence from other health facilities statewide.

Ms Lovell said in her submission the North-West health system failed to provide appropriate personal protective equipment supplies and training and did not enforce requirements of hygiene, social distancing or staying home from work when sick.

She said Labor had called for a royal commission into the deadly cluster and a specific support package for the NorthWest.

“No stone should be left unturned to ensure that answers are provided to families affected by the outbreak, and lessons are learned to ensure the state is better prepared if another outbreak occurs,” she said.

Independent reviewer Greg Melick AO SC accepted inquiry submissions up until 5pm on Friday. An interim report from April identified the Ruby Princess cruise ship as a primary cause of the North-West cluster.