I am a Registered Nurse of 20 years. Like many others across the state, our small semi-rural hospital is in trouble.

Located in the upper Blue Mountains, it is situated between Nepean and Lithgow  hospital with 40km separating us in each direction.

Nepean Hospital is benefitting from the rolling out of ratios. While Lithgow, experiencing its own challenges, is more rural and its ED remains generally quieter.

At our hospital, staff are leaving to work where the conditions are far better. Why would you work in a hospital with no ratios, and where the NHPPD cannot be met? At times this year, upwards of 200 nursing hours per week have been lost due to unfulfilled vacancies, high sick leave, burn out and stress, or colleagues leaving altogether.

Recently, I, alongside three comrades from two different branches, met with our state member of parliament, Labor’s Trish Doyle.

Ms Doyle is a long-time ally of nurses and midwives, and our union generally. Ms Doyle knows our hospital well, and she has passionately campaigned both with us, and on our behalf inside the NSW Parliament.

We are grateful to have a state MP who knows why we desperately need this one-year, 15 per cent pay increase.

We know this pay increase would reduce the number of burn out cases, see a rise in job satisfaction, and reduce waiting times for patients. This campaign is not just about pay, it will also see the delivery and quality of care improve.

A 15 per cent pay increase will help us deliver change for the better. There is still a way to go in this fight, and engaging your local MP is so crucial to help bring on the reform we need to see.

David Robson, RN, Blue Mountains District Hospital Branch