A Queensland Health audit has found "systemic flaws" in the fit-testing of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline nursing staff treating coronavirus patients, the state's nurses' union says.
Queensland Health was told to conduct an urgent statewide review of PPE fit-testing earlier this month after the Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) launched action with the state's industrial relations commission.
The action was taken over concerns that stemmed from three nurses and a doctor being infected with COVID-19 at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
QNMU secretary Beth Mohle said the findings were presented to a hearing before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) on Tuesday.
She said it revealed widespread inconsistencies and deficiencies in the roll-out of PPE fit-testing protocols and practices being used at a number of the state's hospital and health services.
"The data has clearly demonstrated what the QNMU has long feared, that there are huge inconsistencies in the PPE fit-testing programs across our public health system," Ms Mohle said.
"Now that the problems have been identified, we are keen to focus on fixing the problems by working with QH to ensure that nurses working with COVID-positive patients and others suspected of having the virus, are kept safe and well."
Minister says audit has prompted changes
In response to the audit findings, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said starting May 10 all staff working with COVID-19 patients would have to be fully vaccinated, as well as fit-tested and fit-checked at the beginning of every shift.
"A directive will be going out, the HHS have already been notified," she said.
"We want to make sure they've got the confidence that they are as safe as possible working with these COVID patients.
"We also want to make sure we're doing everything possible to reduce the risk of transmission.
"The majority of hospitals are all doing the right thing and have been doing this, but we know we can do better and that is what we are doing," she said.
Ms Mohle said she welcomed the directive, and Queensland Health's agreement to rectify the problems uncovered in the audit.
"This is a particularly risky time now, over 12 months into the pandemic," she said.
"So many [nurses] are exhausted and continuing to deal with uncertainty and heavy workloads.
"This is a time when mistakes can be made, so we must all focus on implementing appropriate strategies to mitigate this high risk.
"There must also be accountability and transparency in the hospital and health service plans so we have confidence that we are keeping nurses and our communities safe."
Ms Mohle said the QIRC commissioner ordered the top priority hospital and health services to prepare action plans for a PPE fit-testing regime by May 4 and then provide these to the QNMU for feedback and discussion within the following week.
The other hospital and health services are to develop action plans to be provided by May 7.
It comes as Queensland overnight recorded nine new COVID-19 cases, which were all acquired overseas.
Authorities say two were detected in hotel quarantine and the seven others came from a ship Inge Kosan, which is docked at the Brisbane Port.
All cases remain onboard.
There are currently 24 active cases in Queensland with 16 in hospital.
Audit findings 'appalling', Opposition says
Opposition Health spokeswoman Ros Bates said the LNP had been questioning the PPE equipment and fit-testing practices for months.
"These are our frontline workers, they're the ones actually looking after our covid positive patients," she said.
"It's not rocket science to fit test a mask and it's appalling that it took 12 months for this to come out."
