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Summer 2004

Mersey Members Campaign Bears Fruit

Mersey members over recent times have campaigned in their community over the need to maintain services.

The campaign has now borne fruit, with the Tasmanian Government announcing a $43.5m expansion of services (over 4 years) for the Mersey Hospital, plus other initiatives in the region.

This follows the announcement that the Mersey Hospital will return to the public sector.

HACSU State Secretary, Chris Brown, said the announcement was a great victory for HACSU members at the Mersey Hospital.

"Members ran a terrific campaign highlighting their community's needs. They went out to the public arena through the media and spread the word that the Devonport and Latrobe area needed better services."

"They won support from the community and the Government is clearly responding to that."

"It shows the value of a union not just in terms of the wages and conditions it delivers to members but also as a community organization campaigning for services in the community."

"These improvements would not have been won if a few individuals approached their local politicians and wrote to the Premier. It was won by a sustained campaign by union members under HACSU's banner."

The announcement by Minister Llewellyn, includes;

• retention of the existing 96 beds,

• 50 extra staff, including 8 extra doctors working in orthopaedics, anaesthetics, medicine and general surgery, ensuring safer staffing hours and clinical best practice,

• a 10% increase in nursing hours,

• extra attendants assisting in the medical and surgical wards, and additional domestic staff and catering positions,

• restoration of allied health services and additional staff in this area,

• security to be provided 24 hours, 7 days a week,

• retention of obstetrics and midwifery services,

• the allocation of 4 beds for palliative care,

• a flexible extended care service, using existing medical and rehab beds to make Mersey a center of Excellence in the care of the elderly,

• $3.3m to meet immediate capital funding needs of the hospital.

Chris Brown said the extent of the gains won by members should not be under sold.

"It is really a terrific outcome. There will be more and better services, and more good jobs for the area."

"More health jobs means more money flowing into the region and that will have a flow-on effect in the local economy."

"There are wins for elderly residents, for expecting mums, for the general population in the standard of care they will receive when they are sick and have to go into hospital or use other health services.

"It shows that you do not have to accept things, that if you get organised and get off your bum and campaign then it is possible to make a real difference."

"I'm very proud of what members have achieved here for the community."