The Tasmanian Liberals’ signature health plan to “ban” ambulance ramping has hit a speed bump days out from coming into effect after the industrial watchdog ordered the policy to be halted.
The Liberals, who are aiming for a fourth term at the March 23 election, want to introduce a protocol in 2026 requiring patients to be transferred from ambulances to emergency departments within 30 minutes.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff dubbed the policy as a ban on ramping where patients are unable to be shifted from ambulances to a hospital.
The state’s health workforce was expected to ease into the half-hour time requirement starting with a mandated 60-minute transfer window planned to roll out on Monday before moving to 45 minutes in 2025.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmania took the government to the industrial commission to seek an order for the plan to be stopped, warning patients would have been offloaded into “overburdened, under-resourced and under-staffed” emergency departments.
The commission blocked the procedure’s implementation two days before it was to come into effect at three hospitals, determining there was insufficient consultation with stakeholders.
The union’s secretary Emily Shepherd on Saturday welcomed the status quo decision by the commission.
“It will enable further consultation to occur to ensure that ANMF members concerns and the risks they have identified are mitigated,” she said.
Ms. Shepherd said the union’s feedback on changes to the policy was only submitted on Thursday.
“This only provided one business day for members’ concerns to be considered and resources put in place,” she said.
“This is not a realistic timeframe and reinforced members’ perception that their concerns were being ignored.”
Mr. Rockliff on Saturday described the policy as measured, well thought through and clinically led, declaring he expects the 60-minute protocol will be introduced “in a very short timeframe”.
“We are continuing to consult and engage,” he told reporters.
“Our minister has said very clearly that the resources that are required to support our nurses will be provided.”
Labor’s Dean Winter said his party was committed to funding more staff and providing more services in towns and suburbs, labelling the government’s policy a “slogan”.
“This appears to be a plan that just moves people from the backs of ambulances on the ramp and into the hallways and cupboards of our hospital system,” he told reporters on Saturday.
“We need a comprehensive plan to take pressure off our hospitals.”
Health Minister Guy Barnett has previously indicated patients would only be transferred if safe to do so under the policy.
Federation members took industrial action at the Launceston General Hospital on Thursday and Royal Hobart Hospital on Friday to protest against the proposed rule.
The Australian Medical Association labelled the policy as the “wrong way to go” while the Health and Community Service Union, representing ambulance officers, was pleased paramedics would be freed up but has sought more detail.
