News Flash

The PSA attended the regular bi-monthly meeting with Modbury Hospital Management on Wednesday 30 September 2009 and was represented by PSA Industrial Officer Margie Lindley. The following key agenda items were discussed at the meeting.

1. Terms of Reference – Representatives at Modbury Hospital Industrial Liaison Forum

The Industrial Liaison Forum (ILF) Modbury Hospital provides the forum for management to consult and exchange information with relevant Union officials and delegates on matters affecting the Union members at the Modbury Hospital. The updated Terms of Reference has included Membership of the Industrial Liaison Forum as:

• One Union official from each of PSA, ALHMWU, ANF and SASMOA

• One Worksite Representative of each of the above Unions

• General Manager Modbury Hospital (or representative)

• Corporate Services/Finance Director

• Director of Nursing

• Medical Administrator

• Human Resource Manager

If a Worksite Representative is interested in attending these meetings please email your details to Industrial Officer, Margie Lindley on mcl@cpsu.asn.au

2. Medical Report

Recruitment within the medical field has reached a critical stage and Modbury Hospital has problems attracting medical staff. Next year the recruitment will be the same as the Victorian System in that the hospital will not undertake the recruitment. Doctors will list their preferences as to which hospital they prefer to be employed. Hospitals will then only be able to interview applicants and check their references. It is foreseen that this won't have a big impact at Modbury Hospital as difficulties in recruitment is already occurring.

3. Nursing Staff

Accreditation is complete and has been well received. The introduction of the 10 hour Night Duty is about to commence at Modbury. Catherine McKenna, Director of nursing, met with the Consultative Group and a paper will be prepared for the Region.

There is still the need for quite a number of FTE nursing staff to cover gaps hence recruitment continued with advertisements in The Advertiser and overseas.

The Swine Flu Vaccination Program commenced on 30^th September 2009.

4. Human Resource Report

The Department of Health has introduced a new policy whereby all employees working with 'prescribed positions' are subject to criminal history checks. This is in order to assist in reaasonably preventing actions and behaviour that would be harmful to children under 18 years of age. The Modbury Hospital HR are working on procedures to introduce this policy within this work area.

A 'prescribed position' is a position that requires or involves prescribed functions involving the following:

• regular contact with children (persons under 18 years of age) or working in close proximity to children on a regular basis

• supervision or management of persons in positions requiring or involving regular contact with children or working in close proximity to children on a regular basis

• access to records relating to children (eg medical records).

Criminal history reports are required to be undertaken 3 yearly. This process will incur costs as follows:

• existing employees – no payment required

• new employees - $55 per check – once successfully employed will be deducted from pay

• volunteers - $35

Informed consent must be given before a criminal history report is obtained. All records will be treated in a confidential manner.

A CE Check with further information will be released prior to Criminal History checks for existing employees is commenced.

5. Changes to HR Function

Modbury Hospital and Lyell McEwin Hospital will have a combined HR Manager position instead of 2 separate positions. There are not any plans to review the other roles connected to the HR Manager. This move has no connection to the Ernst and Young Review. A review of the Occupational Health & Safety Services at Lyell McEwin and Modbury Hospital has also been undertaken. As a consequence of this, the units will be merged as one OH&S Unit across both campuses.

6. Reclassification of FOH Administrative Positions

The reclassification assessments for the FOH Administrative positions, Communications Coordinator and Patient Information Services were signed off for assessment on 28^th September by CNAHS Management. The process now is that Peta-Maree Duncan, HR Manager, will forward these to either another HR Consultant within CNAHS or an outside consultant to undertake the assessment of the reclassification. This process has to be undertaken by an autonomous consultant as Modbury HR Management wrote the submission. It is envisaged a response should be received within 2 weeks. The PSA expressed dismay at the long delay in this process but was assured by Ms Duncan, that this is being treated as a priority.

7. 2009 Enterprise Bargaining

The PSA advised that Enterprise Bargaining negotiations with the Government have commenced.

Please forward any issues you may wish to raise at future industrial forums to Margie Lindley, PSA Industrial Officer on mcl@cpsu.asn.au Worksite Representatives who may wish to attend Industrial Liaison Forums should also contact Margie Lindley on mcl@cpsu.asn.au or telephone 8205 3285.

PSA WORKING FOR MODBURY HOSPITAL MEMBERS

16 October 2009