Tasmanian Remote Nurses hampered by bureaucracy
Nurses and midwives working in remote and rural Tasmania are prevented from doing their jobs properly by outdated laws and departmental practices.
CRANAplus has swung its support behind the Greens in Tasmania, who are pushing for changes to the Tasmanian healthcare system.
Aspects of the health system reflect the view of nursing and midwifery in the 1950s, not 2011, says Christopher Cliffe, President of CRANAplus, the professional body for the Australian remote and isolated workforce.
The result is a ‘brain drain’ from Tasmania’s rural and remote areas, as highly skilled and educated nurses and midwives leave because of the restrictions on their capacity to practice.
Mr Cliffe said that, despite a huge up take of CRANAplus courses in Tasmania, these highly skilled and knowledgeable nurses are often prevented by local bureaucracy from undertaking their essential role.
“I urge the Government and Health System in Tasmania to acknowledge and embrace their remote health professionals, support and facilitate this incredibly tough job and help them improve the wellbeing of Tasmanians, regardless of where they live,” Mr Cliffe said.