I am writing this letter following a meeting between NSWNMA private hospital members and Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender.

It was amazing to have a politician so eager to hear from nurses and learn more about the struggles we face when it comes to securing minimum safe staffing ratios in private hospitals.

I spoke about my experience working at both St Vincent’s Public Hospital with no ratios and then moving to St Vincent’s Private which won some ratios in their EBA agreement. I spoke about what a difference it makes.

In the public system, the burden constantly falls on the nursing staff to compensate for the unreasonable workloads, increased patient load and acuity.

At St Vincent’s Private I witnessed and experienced the benefits of ratios: more staff on of the floor per patient, improved staff morale, improved staff safety and of course achieving the ultimate goal: improved patient safety.

The other issue I raised was housing affordability for nurses. Working in the inner city of Sydney in one of the most affluent electorates in Australia, for which Ms Spender is the MP, one thing has also become clear to me: not only it is impossible to live near my work, but it is also impossible for me to live in Sydney at all.

I told this to Allegra Spender, that sadly I am another nurse on the way out, due to low pay.

Jack Fullerton, Registered Nurse, NSWNMA St Vincent’s Private Branch