The last two years have been tough, particularly for nurses and midwives, and most particularly in NSW. Interminably hailed as heroes and angels, but still not many people get it.

Not the NSW government, not the federal government and not most of the general public. It’s been consistently too little, too late, with both government jurisdictions on the back foot. It has taken the Omicron variant to at last get us the media coverage we have been seeking.

To articulate the anger and frustration, knowing that if we’d had nurse/midwife patient ratios when we first requested them years ago, at least we’d have a bit of padding in the health system now.

To tell the heart-wrenching stories of the day in, day out slog, stress and anxiety of every shift, knowing that patient safety and your registration are both on the line. What it’s like actually wearing PPE until you are dehydrated and depleted by shift’s end, your face wearing the scars of yet another eight hours in an N95 mask.

Fearful for the professional future of the undergrads and new grads, who will be deprived of mentorship when they most need it due to the attrition rates in our professions.

Describing what it’s like to see another colleague take early retirement, or leave to find work outside a system that has never looked after us, never cared for us, never wanted to understand that our professions are labour intensive because they need to be.

It doesn’t mean we’re any less worthy of reasonable workloads and equitable pay rates and conditions commensurate with our knowledge, skills and qualifications. It means that everyone had better listen up – finally. What I say is this: never again. When the pandemic is finally over, I implore every member to stand together and fight for our professions.

Liz McCall, Byron Central Hospital  NSWNMA branch assist sec/delegate