Skye Romer, mental health nurse and secretary of the NSWNMA’s Prince of Wales Hospital mental health branch, said working conditions had deteriorated as staffing vacancies worsened.

“Our scope of practice has been diluted, our admissions have skyrocketed, and now untrained staff have been introduced into care models,” she said.

“All of this has resulted in inferior care being provided to NSW residents and it is not good enough.

“My message to our politicians is: enough with the platitudes – stop gaslighting us. We won’t stop fighting until we achieve the safe staffing levels that our communities deserve.”