NEWS PROFESSOR JILL MABEN
TASMANIA FAREWELLS BRANCH SECRETARY ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Neroli Ellis is leaving the union after 15 years at the helm.
HAVE HOSPITALS BECOME INEFFICIENT NURSING FACTORIES? Despite digital technology playing a growing role in healthcare, patients still prefer human contact and meaningful face-to-face engagement that drives dignity, empathy and emotional support, according to Jill Maben Professor of Nursing Research at King’s College, London. Keynote speaker at the recent ANMF (SA Branch) Annual Professional Conference, Professor Maben put forth the contention while dissecting the future of nursing from a global and national perspective. Identifying looming global healthcare challenges, headed by ageing populations and increasing chronic disease, Professor Maben said her extensive research continually underlined the importance of forging human connections when delivering healthcare. “I think what patients tell us they want is they want to have contact. They want to have human contact. We interact with people and that’s really important. They want to have visible eye contact, smiling, verbal greetings, etc. That’s considerably important for patients.” In the face of a global nursing shortage, Professor Maben said the challenge to recruit and retain nurses was critical. She posed whether a radical rethink was required to improve the delivery of healthcare in order to combat a reduction in creativity caused by a culture of simply 6 October 2017 Volume 25, No. 4
ticking off boxes that has subsequently led to a lack of meaningful interactions between nurse and patient. She added that the state of affairs often made the job feel “a little bit like a production line”. Citing the work of medical historian Dr Roy Porter, who once claimed hospitals had become soulless factories, Professor Maben declared a similar viewpoint. “I suggest to you that we have an inefficient nursing factory in hospitals, performing nursing not always as the patient needs it but as the system is currently organised around it.” Despite this Professor Maben said there were examples where quality healthcare was being achieved. She said Buurtzorg, a home-care organisation founded in The Netherlands that has expanded globally, was a prime example of how care could be better delivered to achieve improved outcomes across all health systems. She said the nurse-led and nurse-run organisation involved self-managed teams that provided home care to patients in their neighbourhoods and is run with 70% RNs. “It’s championing humanity over bureaucracy. Autonomous teams work with primary care providers and support from the family and the community to bring patients to optimal functioning as quickly as possible,” Professor Maben explained. Professor Maben said Buurtzorg had proved successful because it deviated from the rigid standardisation of care, including de-humanising care, and instead focused on affording independent teams with greater autonomy, allowed to work to their full scope and truly focus on patients. “Nurses act as a health coach for individuals and family, emphasising preventative health measures. The golden rule is nurses must spend 61% of their time in direct contact with the people they support.” She said she was unsure how to combat the evolution of soulless factories in hospitals, but suggested rediscovering primary care nursing could provide part of the solution.
Ms Ellis has been appointed as the Deputy President of the Tasmanian Industrial Commission. Her commencement starts this month. “Representing nurses, midwives and care staff has been an honour, privilege and pleasure over the past 15 years. As a nurse, I have always been passionate about improving the working lives of nurses, they are highly respected in the community.” Ms Ellis said there had been many achievements over the time. She highlighted the establishment of a Registered Training Organisation – the Health Education and Research Centre; training of care staff and enrolled nurses; and a comprehensive professional development service for members. “Industrially, over this period, nurses’ wages have increased around 60% and many improvements to conditions have been negotiated.” The ANMF Tasmanian Branch experienced a 140% increase in membership under Ms Ellis’ leadership, which continues to grow. “I leave the ANMF knowing that there is a strong voice for nursing and health in Tasmania and a growing union with over 8,000 members. “There are still many challenges - but simply put - more nurses need to be employed.” ANMF Federal Secretary Lee Thomas paid tribute to Ms Ellis’ contribution to nursing and the ANMF in Tasmania. “Neroli has done much to further the industrial and professional pay, conditions and services for the professions in the state. She has been invaluable to the success of the ANMF. On behalf of all our members, I wish her the best in her future endeavours.” A Branch election will be held in the near future with Emily Shepherd ANMF Tasmanian Acting Branch Secretary.
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