ABC has run the following story about laundry services in SA.

Full story here. 

Linen shortage hits South Australian hospitals as report shows ambulance waiting times worst nationally.

The union for healthcare and laundry workers says a linen shortage is leading to hospital beds being unable to be used in South Australia.

Key points:

  • A union says one hospital ward had only five sets of sheets for 28 beds
  • The health minister says the problem is already being addressed
  • A Productivity Commission report says ambulance waiting times were longest in SA

But the state’s health minister said the problem was on its way to being solved.

United Workers Union South Australian public sector coordinator Kimberley Rowney said the state’s hospitals were running out of linen sheets for hospital beds. 

She said she had been told of only five sets of sheets being available for up to 28 beds in a ward and “when there is no linen there can be no beds”.

Ms Rowney said other sectors that used sheets — like hotels — were also affected but public health systems could not compete for price.

“Often what happens with government contracts, it’s cheapest gets the contract,” she said.

“So, when other businesses are paying more and there’s a hold-up on the supply, it’s the businesses who pay more that get the supply and unfortunately South Australian hospitals just go to the back of the queue.

Full story here.