Danger to nurses `ignored'
24.03.2008
QUEENSLAND Health knew for more than three years that nurses posted to remote Torres Strait islands were living in unfit accommodation where they were in extreme personal danger.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson was forced yesterday to release a February 2006 report compiled by his department -- triggered by concerns raised by a Labor MP the year before -- outlining the appalling living and working conditions that provided little or no personal security.
Two weeks ago, The Australian detailed two later reports that repeated the list of faults and failings, yet nothing was done to address the problems.
On February 5, a nurse working alone on Mabuiag Island in the Torres Strait was attacked as she slept at 3am. A local islander has been charged with burglary and rape.
In December 2005, local Labor MP Jason O'Brien wrote to Mr Robertson appealing for urgent repairs to be approved to nurse accommodation on three other islands, and nothing was done.
In March 2006, Mr O'Brien asked Mr Robertson to convene aworkshop on Thursday Island to discuss ``the acute systemic difficulties the real remote area nurses experience on a daily basis''.
Then in May last year, Mr Robertson wrote to Mr O'Brien saying a review of issues raised by the nurses was carried out in 2006 ``with the subsequent development of an action plan from the review recommendations''.
But last weekend, Mr Robertson said the reports detailing the security faults, including doors and windows without locks, no running water, no electricity and no distress alarm systems, were not brought to his attention.
It was therefore the fault of public servants for not addressing the issues and telling him about them, he said.
Mr O'Brien released an email from a nurse on one of the islands that was sent to him on January 26 -- a little more than a week before the alleged rape on Mabuiag Island.
That email said the woman, with two children, was concerned that she had submitted ``an extensive maintenance list for both the house and health centre'' but no action had been taken on the issue.
The document said: ``I have sent it to the maintenance department at Thursday Island hospital on more than six occasions and nothing has happened.
``The health centre is not secure because window and door locks only work intermittently, but my greatest concern is the lack of smoke alarms.
``I am not alone on this issue. I have been advised by other staff members that their maintenance list has not been attended to in five years.''
The Queensland Nurses Union yesterday repeated its ultimatum to the state Government that unless all facilities on all the islands were brought up to an acceptable standard by March 28, in accordance with workplace health and safety regulations, the nurses would refuse to staff them.
Instead, they would service the islands only on a fly in-fly out basis, conducting day clinics.
The union has told the Government that it is no longer acceptable to have lone nurses on remote communities, and said at least two must be appointed to each facility.
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