Aim
To address the challenge of insufficient staff to cover both existing medical teams and the new COVID Wards in non-metropolitan areas, resulting in increased fatigue and risks to patient safety.
Outcomes
The above findings suggest that while this model of rostering has met the critical needs it was intended to address, there is still continual improvement necessary to address emergent problems.
The use of this roster to meet staffing shortages while minimising overtime and fatigue appears to have been successful, and feedback from other clinicians suggest benefits beyond the initial aims. Continuing iteration and feedback to address problems will be necessary should this model of care continue to be implemented.
Background
In late 2021, West Moreton HHS was subject to a Medical Officer staffing crisis. Due to the large, rural region it serves, the health service is subject to similar problems with attracting and retaining staff. There is a seasonal waning of staffing numbers from August until January, as staff are stepped up to senior roles or move to metropolitan sites. The COVID-19 wave in late 2021 exacerbated this problem.
Traditionally, the loss of staff would be adequately covered by locums. However, the closure of borders had led to a lack of available workers to fill the gap.
