The nurses' union is the latest to criticise the ACT government's planned takeover of Calvary Public Hospital, saying its members were only told about the plan two weeks ago.
The ACT branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) released a statement in support of the hospital's staff, who it said: "deserved better".
The government's announcement that Canberra Health Services (CHS) would take over the Catholic-owned hospital has already seen backlash from groups including the Catholic Archdiocese, the Canberra Liberals, and the Australian Christian Lobby.
On Friday, ANMF ACT said consultation on the proposed takeover was "more than a requirement" under workplace laws and its enterprise agreement with the government.
The agreement states that if any change considered by the ACT public service would have a "significant effect" on employees, both the affected employees and the associated unions would be given "a genuine opportunity to contribute to and influence the decision-making process prior to decisions being made".
The ACT ANMF said it was not given this opportunity, and now could have only five weeks to consider and work through how to ensure patient care through the takeover.
"This is the transfer of Canberrans' healthcare," it said.
"It is a decision that goes to the health and wellbeing of all Canberrans, both right now and into the future."
It said it was important because the decision had been made without the views or advice of Canberra's nurses and midwives.
"[It is absent of] the views of those healthcare professionals who provide direct patient care to Canberrans, and those who can provide clear and unequivocal professional and operational advice about the effects this decision, and its operationalisation, will have on patient care."
The union said the situation had led to a level of mistrust among nurses and midwives and could set a "dangerous precedent moving forward".
"If the ACT government can simply make such a significant decision regarding healthcare in this jurisdiction without first seeking the views of those by the bedside, those providing direct patient care to our community, a question rightly arises as to whether the ACT government condones the actions of its public service when it does not genuinely consult with its workforce, or the ACT community, prior to decisions affecting them being made."
'Lack of respect for our nurses and midwives'
But in their statement, the ANMF said mistrust had also arisen from Calvary and its lack of collaboration with the government to support staff through the transition, instead engaging in "wargaming" through media coverage of the takeover.
The ANMF said it had also long believed public-funded health care should not be outsourced to private providers such as the Little Company of Mary.
"On the limited information that has been made available to the ANMF, it appears that the substantive decision, to build the new, government-run, North-side hospital on the existing Calvary Bruce campus, may, in fact, be sound," the statement said.
"And it might be particularly so if the known workplace and cultural issues across CHS did not exist.
"But without comprehensive and genuine consultation, nurses and midwives can't be sure."
It said the behaviours of both the government and Calvary had left nurses and midwives feeling alone.
"The ACT government should not have acted in this manner. And Calvary does not appear to have behaved much better," it said.
"Our nurses and midwives have recently been through hell, and the manner in which this decision was made and being realised has just caused more distress.
"It demonstrates a definitive lack of respect for our nurses and midwives, and their health and well-being. They deserve better."
