The Fair Work Commission has endorsed the Mater Health Services Operational Employees’ Enterprise Agreement 2014.
May 10, 2016
Patients will not be charged for medication from Tasmanian hospital pharmacies from today as allied health workers escalate industrial action. The workers are angry they do not have their own representative on the newly established seven-member executive team appointed by new Tasmanian Health Service (THS) CEO David Alcorn. Instead, one position has been created combining responsibility for nursing, midwifery and allied health. Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) secretary Tim Jacobson said Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Mr Alcorn had been almost silent in response to their concerns since industrial action started two weeks ago. “The bans now are escalated to capture a number of revenue-raising activities,” he said.
May 9, 2016
It took about 26 firefighters about 30 minutes to contain a blaze at Menora Gardens residential aged care facility this morning. RSL Care WA chief executive Kevin Davidson said the fire started in an ensuite bathroom of a room in the one-storey Eweing Wing. “A fire occurred in the exhaust extraction fan and that tripped the RCD switch to isolate the power,” he said. Staff heard the fire alarm, turned off the electricity and evacuated at least six residents from their rooms just after 4am. One woman, 90, was treated for smoke inhalation.
May 9, 2016
Gavin Robins is the new chief executive officer of Coolibah Total Caring. Current chief executive Don Pember retires this year after 25 years.
May 9, 2016
Ambulance Tasmania employees will begin low-level industrial action on Tuesday if the State Government hasn’t put forward a new workplace agreement for consideration by Monday afternoon. At meetings over the past 10 days, Health and Community Services Union members voted to embark on industrial action that includes bans on working overtime, entering information into the electronic database, non-essential paperwork, moving vehicles, and distributing campaign materials.
May 9, 2016
Hundreds of hospital jobs will be spared the axe under revised plans to rein in the Barnett Government’s health spending. The Department of Health said 717 full time equivalent positions would be slashed from three hospitals in the South Metropolitan Health Service. These cuts are down from the original plan to reduce 1163 FTEs. A Department spokesman said additional efficiency savings would need to be found in other areas to make-up for the revised staff cuts.
May 9, 2016
A nurse who made a false insurance claim and stole drugs has avoided being struck off the profession’s register. American-born Christopher Joseph Foley was, however, suspended for 18 months. His misconduct included looking at nude women and sexual images on his employer’s computer system.
May 9, 2016
The Royal District Nursing Service Limited is defending a s.372 (Application to deal with other contravention disputes) launched by a staff member (Hutchinson).
