Running of unit ‘serious public safety issue'

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is demanding changes in a mental health ward at Southland Hospital be made by 3pm today or its members may not carry out any unsafe work.

In a statement to the Otago Daily Times late yesterday, the nurses union said members had serious concerns about the dire state of the inpatient mental health unit at the hospital.

NZNO members had reported many concerns to the union.

"The way the unit is being run creates risks to patients and staff [and] is a serious public safety issue."

The changes must be: security to remain on the ward until the duress system is active and fault-free; ensure nurse-in-charge is supernumerary to ensure adequate co-ordination of shift; ensure all shifts through to Monday afternoon have adequate skills mix and experience; a freeze of new admissions to the ward and proactively reduce patient numbers on the ward to a maximum of 16 patients by 3pm today.

One NZNO member said the community had a right to access a mental health service that could ensure their safety.

"However, this unit is currently failing to do that or even ensure the staff are safe at work.

"There have been multiple failings of the service as a whole and we fear another very serious event on the ward.

"Two years ago a psychiatrist had his neck broken in an incident, and there are plenty of other incidents of harm to staff and patients, from patients.

"Staff are worried about management retribution if they speak out about what is happening on the ward."

The Public Service Association (PSA) is also raising concerns about the ward.

PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said mental health and allied workers at Southland Hospital were experiencing short staffing which was directly impacting patient care and staff safety.

"We are seeing this all over the country.

"The Southland inpatient unit has repeatedly raised concerns with management around under-staffing.

"Staff members have seen the acuity of patients that come through the doors really increase in the past few years.

"The issues patients are presenting with are more severe and challenging than ever before."

The Southland inpatient unit covered a large geographic area which had unique issues such as transporting mental health patients in crisis which was difficult because of the long distance to drive, she said.

"Mental health workers at Southland Hospital went on strike along with PSA health workers across New Zealand last week and in October to demand safe staffing and better pay."

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand was contacted for comment late yesterday about the demands from NZNO but indicated it could not reply until today.