KING Island Volunteer Ambulance Service remains homless but now have access to King Island District Hospital facilities. From last weekend the VAOs can now access the hospital after hours and can use facilities. Last week a government spokesperson said King Island District Hospital was open and staffed 24/7 and VAOs had swipe access via the front entrance.
“Once VAOs swipe into the building, they have full access to amenities including tea and coffee facilities, an area for report completion and paperwork, and toilet facilities.”
Ambulance officers when advised of the government spokesperson’s statement, said the swipe card on the vehicle keys dated from before the hospital redevelopment and Covid and it no longer worked. An historic email regarding hospital access advised the VAOs to use the hospital entrance push button and a nurse would admit them and if they wanted to use facilities, make a request to a nurse to admit.
In November Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff answered questions asked by Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest MLC in the Legislative Council and advised that there is VAO access to the King Island Hospital facilities. King Island Ambulance Officers were at odds with this.
“We do not have keys and are required to interrupt nursing staff to let us in and we are unable to use internal facilities without keys.”
Last week, the King Island Hospital Director of Nursing, Amanda Gill said the two ambulances had swipe cards on their keys.
“The first I heard about the swipe cards not working or giving Volunteer Ambulance access to the main hospital building was in last week’s Courier,” she said. “I have spoken to King Island Volunteer Ambulance officer Robert Jordon and told him that the system has not changed since the hospital redevelopment and the Covid protocols introduced, nor have the swipe cards been upgraded. “I asked that the ambulance swipe cards be brought in and if needed, they will be reset. “
During the day the VAOs have access to the hospital through the main entrance. “They need to sign in the same way as any person entering the hospital or medical centre. They have use of the staff break room facilities, toilet and an area to write reports and similar. The training room requires booking, and there is access to the Mental Health space, and I have advised, that they can debrief or use any hospital consulting room that is vacant. “The only change is the ambulance officers cannot be based at the nurse’s station due to patient document confidentiality.
“Officers have hospital swipe access after hours for Cat 3 and 4 admissions and Cat 1 and 2 admissions are taken through the Emergency Entrance. “This is still a push button and was not changed at the redevelopment to swipe card due to additional and high wiring costs.
“The emergency entrance used to be open 24×7, but with change in Covid protocols and security, it is now closed after hours, and people need to be let in and to pass through the emergency airlock. “There is little delay to be let in, as nursing staff are waiting or anticipating an ambulance as they will have been advised by phone that an ambulance is en route.
“The facilities [tearoom, toilets, debrief rooms] are available during the day and after – hours, however as there is no after-hours cleaning staff they, as with other hospital staff, are required to wipe down the surfaces and Clinell wipes are provided.”