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Nurses in Western Australia's far north are being pushed to breaking point by staff shortages, a lack of stable accommodation, and "third-world" standards, the head of the state's nurses union says.
Key points:
- The Australian Nursing Federation WA Secretary has toured hospitals across the Kimberley
- The union says nurses are struggling amid staff shortages and accommodation issues
- The WA Country Health Service says a record number of graduate nurses has been deployed since the beginning of the year
Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) WA state secretary Janet Reah hit out at the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) after a week of meetings with nurses in Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Wyndham, and Kununurra.
"I was speaking to non-ANF members like orderlies, paramedics, all the way up to directors of nursing at the sites, and I had a really complete overview of the whole spectrum of issues that they all experience in the country," she said.
With more patients entering the hospital under the influence of drugs, Ms Reah said there was "a lot of concern" for staff safety in Broome.
"Bigger places like Broome are suffering the effects of methamphetamine use, so that puts an added strain on [nurses] … but also a big strain on the mental health units," she said.
The ABC reported last month that threats and aggressive behaviour towards nurses at Broome Hospital have doubled in the past two years, with 132 code black calls made between February 1 and April 30 this year.
A code black incident is one where staff feel there is a threat of physical harm to themselves, other staff, patients, or visitors.
Ms Reah said the "skill mix" at hospitals in the Kimberley was "particularly concerning" and more support for new nurses was needed.
"Throwing these novice and graduate nurses into the deep end, where they're not going to get that support and training to be able to be successful, was a very large part of the concerns they had," she said.
'Third-world' standards
Ms Reah said the most prevalent issue reported at Kimberley hospitals was the lack of staff and the strain it placed on nurses.
"They're finding it very difficult to get leave because there's nobody to backfill their position," she said.
"That's third-world-type standards … we're in Western Australia.
"I couldn't believe the difference … in accessing treatment for these people who live out there … it's quite poor."
Ms Reah also said nurses expressed concerns about personal safety and about the availability and quality of accommodation.
"Nurses were saying that they were being forced to share … accommodation, or move accommodation several times to accommodate other people coming in, which I found amazing," she said.
Ms Reah said graduate nurses were encouraged to move to the regions, but issues with accommodation would drive them away.
"When you look at the demographic generally, it's a young female workforce," she said.
"You can see why there's a huge reluctance to take up these positions in what would otherwise be a really rewarding place to work."
Record number of graduates
WA Country Health Service (WACHS) acting executive director of nursing and midwifery Yvonne Bagwell rejected some of Ms Reah's claims.
She said a record number of graduates had been deployed to WACHS sites since the beginning of the year.
"We know newly qualified nurses and midwives are choosing country WA as a place to kickstart their careers," Ms Bagwell said.
"WA Country Health Service is investing in staff development support across the Kimberley, boosting the number of staff development resources available to support newly qualified nurses and midwives."
Ms Bagwell said staff development nurses facilitated learning and teaching opportunities to keep nurses' professional development and skills up-to-date.
"In addition to on-the-ground support, we also offer regular training for staff, including specialist education and simulation sessions via innovative video-conferencing technology," she said.
"Our BACKUP service also provides education, support, and advice to nursing staff with a particular focus on providing professional development support to early-career nurses."
Ms Bagwell said WACHS's Kimberley workforce was maintained by a mix of salaried, contracted, casual, and agency staff.
She said healthcare workers performed a "vital role" in the community and should be treated with the "utmost respect".
"Their safety, and the safety of our patients, is our top priority," Ms Bagwell said.
"We have a range of security and safety measures in place, including an on-site security presence.
"We know that crime in the community can impact recruitment and retention and we also continue to work with WA Police and local leaders on community-driven solutions."
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