Cardiothoracic surgery at a major north Queensland hospital was paused for 10 days last month due to staff shortages, resulting in patients who needed urgent surgery being flown to Brisbane.
Townsville Hospital and Health Services (THHS) says it is now engaging with the nurses union over concerns nurses were being inappropriately called into work at the cardiothoracic unit, leading to fatigue-related leave.
The unit — which is responsible for heart and lung surgeries — was placed on bypass from September 18 to 28 due to staff shortages, according to THHS.
During that time, five urgent patients were flown to Brisbane.
THHS has received concerns from the nurses' union about on-call arrangements. (ABC North Qld: Jade Toomey)
Inappropriate 'on-call' arrangements
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union said members had raised concerns about overworking and had taken the concerns to the hospital and health service on Wednesday afternoon.
Secretary Sarah Beaman said the union was aware of "significant issues relating to alleged inappropriate use of on-call arrangements".
Sarah Beaman says union members have expressed their concerns about the overworking issue. (ABC News: Jack McKay)
"We understand the ongoing, unmanageable workloads are also impacting retention in specialist areas and affecting regional cardiac services," she said.
"Members have escalated concerns about unreasonable workloads, loss of experienced staff and concerns about burnout."
A hospital spokesperson confirmed it had received the union's concerns and was working with it through a "standard engagement process".
"There are robust processes in place to ensure fatigue is properly managed," the spokesperson said.
Townsville Hospital is the referral hospital in north Queensland for heart and lung surgeries.
Staff shortages
Australian Medical Association (AMA) spokesperson Nick Yim said each cardiothoracic surgery required a team of doctors, an anaesthetist, specialised nurses, ICU staff and allied health professionals.
He said it was "very, very unlikely" doctors had been calling in nurses to work for non-urgent surgeries.
"We are hearing that many doctors and nurses are working increased hours, overtime and on-call shifts," Dr Yim said.
"They are human and, like other people when they work long hours, they can suffer from fatigue and burn out."
Nick Yim says cardiothoracic surgery is highly specialised. (Supplied: AMA Queensland)
He said when units were placed on bypass, it could create longer waiting lists for patients and eliminate buffers in the system.
Staff shortages across the state are a significant concern, according to Dr Yim.
"AMA Queensland continues to ask the state government what is its long-term workforce plan," he said.
A THHS spokesperson said all urgent cardiothoracic patients were successfully treated during the diversion in September.
The spokesperson said local emergency cases were treated by a "fast-track" nursing team and cardiac anaesthesia and perfusion were available as normal.
A spokesperson for Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls said he was aware of the concerns about on-call arrangements and the diversion.