The head of SA Health was unaware the state’s peak nursing union is threatening industrial action over a series of serious patient safety concerns at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital until this morning. SA Health chief executive Vickie Kaminski admitted she did not know the extent of concerns from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation until fresh concerns were highlighted in a parliamentary budget and finance committee on Monday morning. Just two weeks after the $2.3 billion new RAH opened its doors, the union has raised 13 major concerns with the new hospital, including patient “line of sight issues”; delays in receipt of blood products, drugs and equipment; and inadequate space, equipment and drugs for emergency intubation.
