K-BLOCK BLACK SPOT
MOBILE black spots are causing communications headaches for medical staff working at Hobart’s new $689 million hospital building.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian secretary Emily Shepherd said the lack of reception had been frustrating members at the hospital.
The state government says there are reception problems in “some areas” and is seeking expert advice on how to fix the issue.
MEDICAL staff working in Hobart’s $689m new hospital building are struggling to communicate with one another and with staff in other parts of the hospital due to mobile black spots.
The nurses’ union says there are black spots throughout the 10 storey K-Block and has called on the state government to find a solution.
The government says there are reception problems in “some areas” and is seeking expert advice on how to fix them.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian secretary Emily Shepherd said the lack of reception had been frustrating members at the hospital.
“Our reps are saying there are reception issues throughout the building,” Ms Shepherd said.
“We are hopeful they are working towards a long-term solution to the reception issues in K Block.”
Ms Shepherd said personal smart phones were the chief mode of communication between staff. “Particularly medical staff and allied health they are moving around the hospital they need to have mobile communications to be readily available,” she said.
The Mercury has seen an email sent to staff regarding mobile phone coverage issues in K-Block.
The email said an interim solution had been found for the lack of 4G coverage for a key medical supervisor’s mobile phone that was routinely used in K-Block, saying the phone would “generally work” on Wi-Fi. “Please call a second time if you have no response. We await the upgrade of the paging system on the fourth floor and resolution of the mobile phone 4G issues,” the email said.
A spokesman for the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment said expert advice was being sought on how to improve reception.
“A mobile coverage survey was undertaken as part of the K-Block construction which identified some areas which did not have optimal coverage, which is normal for the commissioning of large buildings,” the spokesman said
“Accordingly, the redevelopment project is getting expert advice on possible solutions to deliver the required coverage. In order to assist clinical workflow, Wi-Fi handsets have being implemented to assist medical professionals.”
The state government hurriedly took control of K-Block in mid-March in a bid to cater for any surge in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At the time Health Minister Sarah Courtney said issues with the building including lead detected in the water and airconditioner noise had not been fully resolved. Ms Courtney said outstanding issues would be addressed during operational commissioning.