Tasmania Heart Surgeries Halted by Striking Perfusionists

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I'm Corey with The Story, and these are your headlines from Adelaide News today.

Heart surgeries in Tasmania are taking a big hit from strikes by four key cardiac specialists

called clinical perfusionists.

Normally, these open-heart procedures happen daily, or twice on busy days with emergencies.

But now, elective surgeries are down to just two a week because the perfusionists have

pulled back from most plan works since February.

These professionals run the heart lung machines that keep patients alive during surgery, and

with only three full-timers and one trainee, there.

On-call schedule is brutal.

One in three weekdays and weekends, often pulling them away from family at a moment's notice.

They're striking over uncompetitive pay and conditions, with some eye moves to the

main land where salaries can be up to 80% higher, plus, better leave and allowances.

The impact hits hard on patients, especially Tasmania's aging population facing more

hard issues.

Without local perfusionists, very sick folks might need risky transfers to the main land

for care, creating logistical and financial headaches.

The specialists want to stay and meet rising demand, but feel stuck in stall talks with

the government.

The State Health Department brought in local workers to cover gaps and reschedule surgeries,

but that frustrates the locals who say those funds could.

Fixed their contracts for years instead.

Health Minister Bridget Archer says the government values the workers, wants pay rises soon,

and is negotiating in good faith.

Meanwhile, broader industrial action from public sector unions is ramping up across hospitals,

involving everything from cleaning to mental health, services at multiple sites.

Union leaders call it unprecedented, blaming lost trust in management, and they're pushing

for intervention to resolve the standoff.

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