Seven call-outs for extra staff were sent via email and six by texts by locum agencies who source specialists across Victoria on Thursday, and three of each were sent for positions at GV Health in specialist urgent coverage for the maternity unit and its clinics.
Other call-outs were sent for roles in Wangaratta, Echuca, Mildura and Bacchus Marsh.
GV Health chief executive Matt Sharp has previously said GV Health was short about 175 full-time equivalent roles across the health service, including specialists, nurses and allied health professionals.
GV Health executive director of quality, risk and innovation and chief nursing and midwifery officer Kellie Thompson said staff shortages were well documented.
“GV Health along with all other health services has had significant staffing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are continuing to be experienced,” she said.
“GV Health continues to work closely with staff and other key agencies to maintain staff levels.
“GV Health would like to thank all staff who continue to respond to requests for additional shifts to support our community.”
Ms Thompson did not answer questions about how many nurses were normally on the maternity ward for it to be fully staffed, nor about how many were currently working in the ward.
One former employee who received the texts said Shepparton “had nobody” who was willing to take on shifts.
“They’re in a catastrophe and hiding it,” they said.
The former employee, who did not wish to be identified, said there had been few takers for the jobs despite the top-line rates on offer, and staff members who were taking up the offers were often older specialists who were less capable of seeing out an entire maternity shift.
The shifts that received call-outs were for 8am to 6pm shifts, but the specialist was required to be on-call for deliveries and caesareans until 8am, rostered on for 24 hours.
