With less than two months until the state election, nurses and midwives need to make sure our voices are heard now more than ever. On Saturday 25 March, NSW will make a choice whether to continue with business as usual or demand change.

COVID-19 has highlighted to the community how vulnerable our public health system is. But let’s be honest, we all know the systemic issues within the public health system were there prior to COVID-19 and continue today.

I know it’s not an easy task, especially after the last few years; we’re going to have to dig deep. But our patients and consumers, our colleagues, and the wider community need us to hang in there. The NSW Government needs to know we aren’t backing down and we won’t stop until our public health system is adequately resourced.

As expected, in the lead-up to an election, there’s going to be drama, and lots of it. So, it’s imperative we don’t allow the current state government to use the drama as a distraction tactic or, in their usual style, to divide and conquer.

Both sides of politics need to know they can’t run away from our public health system and the nurses and midwives!

Skye Romer, NSWNMA Councillor, Prince of Wales