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Autumn 2003

LGH Aides threaten action, get result

LGH Aides have forced management to take action to alleviate concerns about increasing workloads and potential impacts on public safety and workforce health and safety.

This follows months - in the cases of some issues, years - of complaints and reviews, resulting only in chronic in-action by management.

Two issues brought matters to a head; the supply of new linen trolleys and the impacts of terminal cleans.

In the case of the linen trolley issue, a study was undertaken way back in December 2001, indicating that on health and safety grounds new-style, smaller linen trolleys were required.

Nothing happened about this matter despite a number of repeated requests, with complaints that management was putting budget constraints ahead of workers' health and safety arising.

Terminal cleaning has become an increasing issue due to prevalence of MRSA identification, an issue that has resulted in more work for Hospital Aides.

The terminal cleaning procedure stipulates a Hospital Aide is required to assist the Cleaner. But the process of acquiring Cleaning and Hospital Aide staff for this task is different.

Cleaners are booked through the Cleaning Department and not deployed from the ward, whereas Hospital Aides are removed from the ward area, resulting in a build-up of work left behind.

After a lack of a response from management on these two important issues LGH Hospital Aides decided they would refuse to leave day-today duties to assist terminal cleans. Aides also decided it was time to insist on the supply of the new linen trolleys.

Faced with this resolve from members, LGH management had no option but to finally talk turkey.

After discussions it was agreed the purchase of the new trolleys would be set in train, and additional Hospital Aides would be called in when two or more terminal cleans were scheduled within the hospital on any given day.

The stand taken by Hospital Aides again demonstrates the way to get action from management on issues is to take a collective position, and back it up with a willingness for action.

Well done to all Aides at the LGH.