Nurses see more ‘code reds’ unless DHB addresses concerns at hospital
"The department is well beyond capacity every day which means staff are unable to respond to people needing emergency care in the time required to best ensure their wellbeing." Sue Wolland, NZNO organiser
Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s “code reds” will continue if issues around staffing safety and resources aren’t addressed immediately, claims New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) organiser Sue Wolland.
The Hawke’s Bay District Health Board was served with a health and safety notice (Provisional Improvement Notice) relating to conditions at Hawke’s Bay Hospital in Hastings on Tuesday.
The notice was issued relating to Emergency Department conditions, claiming the HBDHB had failed in its primary duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
PINs legally require an employer or service provider to address a health and safety issue before a certain time, and the DHB has been given until October 5.
Wolland told Hawke’s Bay Today that over the past year, the staff had been identifying risks within ED.
“In July, we started discussing with DHB if staff wellbeing, resources and security wasn’t addressed, we’ll issue a PIN,” she said.
Wolland said issuing the PIN became necessary because repeated attempts to escalate concerns about dangerous working conditions that threatened patient safety had been ignored or minimised.
“Staff are working under incredible pressure which is severely impacting their physical and mental health,” she said.
“The department is well beyond capacity every day which means staff are unable to respond to people needing emergency care in the time required to best ensure their wellbeing.
“We have significant vacancies, staff are feeling unsupported and afraid of making clinical errors.
“Staff are being threatened, abused, insulted, and security for staff is a priority.
“People are being left in corridors, there are dangerous delays in triage and assessment.”
She said what was needed from the DHB was an assurance, in writing, on several of those issues.
“Staff are leaving because they are worn out, or they are drastically reducing their hours. We need more staff,” Wolland said.
“A priority for us is also to ensure that there is more security in ED for staff, and more resources for them to be able to do their job.”
DHB chief operating officer Chris Ash said the DHB would work through the process in an “open, transparent and compassionate manner”, committed to resolving the concerns which have been raised and to put a health and safety action plan in place.
Battling increased seasonal demands of acutely sick patients, compounded by the RSV outbreak, Covid-19 challenges and pressures on numbers of beds available, the DHB took its responsibility of providing a safe working environment “very seriously”, he said.
Ash said the DHB was focused on continuing to make improvements where it could to better support staff. Recruitment in recent months had included appointing five additional senior medical officers and 10 additional nursing staff, adding that “redesign work” to support “better patient flow” was in progress.
Tukituki MP, Labour’s Anna Lorck said she spoke to the DHB and was assured the DHB was working closely with ED and staff members on the issues mentioned.
“Health and safety is an absolute priority and six key areas have been identified that are being worked on for improvement.”
“Along with this an additional $3m has been invested into ED including for the 10 nurses, and four more senior medical officers.
“There is also more work under way for greater investment into the ICU department.”