Emails obtained by the Opposition reveal that frontline health professionals at Fiona Stanley Hospital raised concerns about chronic staff shortages, patient safety and staff burnout with management in March this year.
“It is alarming to hear firsthand the distress our frontline staff are feeling on a daily basis at Fiona Stanley Hospital,” Shadow Minister for Health Libby Mettam said.
“These reports of extreme levels of stress, anxiety and burnout in the workplace are a major concern, especially when they were raised with management three months ago and yet nothing has been addressed.
“Clearly, there are major staffing issues across the board in Western Australia’s health system, not just at Perth Children’s Hospital, which has been highlighted in the media recently.
“It is heartbreaking to hear that staff at Fiona Stanley Hospital are experiencing panic attacks prior to work and are taking stress leave from the jobs they love purely because of the fatigue and anxiety these staff shortages are causing.
“It is completely unacceptable that the concerns they have repeatedly raised about patient safety have been ignored. Patient safety should be the absolute priority, but it is being compromised by the McGowan Labor Government.
“Our frontline health professionals do an amazing job, however it is beyond belief that they feel overwhelmed by their workload and are crying out for support.
Morale is at an all-time low in hospitals throughout Western Australia because the McGowan Labor Government refuses to provide the state’s health system with the resources it needs, despite predictions their surplus will reach $5 billion.
“These chronic staff shortages are putting the lives of West Australians at risk and need to be fixed urgently by the Health Minister before another tragedy occurs.”
