WA's health sector vaccine mandate puts pressure on overstretched bush hospitals
ABCAlmost two weeks after Western Australia's health sector vaccine mandate took effect, just a small number of staff losses is increasing pressure on struggling hospital wards and fanning tension between burnt-out workers. Key points: WACHS confirms frontline staff have been removed from rosters for refusing a COVID vaccine Kimberley hospitals are already facing a shortage of health workers The nurses union has accused the WA government of not doing enough to boost resources in remote areas Health authorities have confirmed frontline staff have been removed from rosters for refusing to have at least one dose since the rules came into force at the start of the month. The Health Department is refusing to say how many workers have been taken off rosters statewide, with only WACHS confirming less than five staff have been "advised not to attend work" in the Kimberley. Bush hospitals cannot afford losses: union Last week, a leaked letter from a WACHS nursing boss warned that a shortage of nurses across the Kimberley meant some hospitals were at risk of "imminent service failure".