Free pharmacies in nurse's action
Tasmanian hospital pharmacies will not charge patients, as part of industrial action in the state’s health sector.
Tasmanian allied health workers have escalated their industrial action, after feeling left out of recent changes.
Workers were not given a representative on the newly established seven-member executive team appointed by new Tasmanian Health Service (THS) CEO David Alcorn.
There is a single position on the board with combined responsibility for nursing, midwifery and allied health.
Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) secretary Tim Jacobson said Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Mr Alcorn had been able to ignore the industrial action since it started two weeks ago.
“The bans now are escalated to capture a number of revenue-raising activities,” he said.
“For example, people that use the hospital pharmacies won't be - where members are participating in industrial action - paying for their prescriptions which is normally the case.”
Some radiologists, speech pathologists and physiotherapists have joined the fight too, and will stop collecting statistical data or doing some of their paperwork.
“Unfortunately, the new executive structure of the THS is one that is more suited to a hospital system rather than a health system,” Mr Jacobsen said.
“It seems that Dr Alcorn doesn't understand that not only is he managing a hospital system, he is managing a primary health system as well.”
The Health Minister issued a statement saying he was paying attention.
“Allied health professionals are an essential part of the Tasmanian Health Service and the Government values their work,” he said.
“It is disappointing that the union has chosen to take this action, and we will monitor it closely to ensure it does not impact on patient safety.”