Nurses and midwives held a lunchtime rally outside Griffith Base Hospital to highlight their frustration at the NSW government’s failure to address staffing shortages.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) Griffith Base Hospital branch members will join the growing chorus of communities calling for nurse-to-patient ratios to be implemented urgently.
NSWNMA Councillor and Griffith branch secretary, Kristy Wilson, said mandated shift-by-shift ratios were desperately needed to boost staffing, including one nurse to three patients (1:3) in emergency and 1:4 in medical and surgical wards.
“In recent weeks, over a thousand nurses and midwives have walked off the job, closed beds or rallied at more than 30 public health sites across the state,” said Ms Wilson.
“We need mandated shift-by-shift ratios to guarantee safe staffing here in Griffith, instead of the growing workloads and overtime we’re constantly battling.
“The government can’t continue simply relying on the goodwill of nurses and midwives working under these pressures, it’s not safe for patients or the staff.
“It is shameful how nurses and midwives are being treated across NSW. Victoria and Queensland have mandated nurse-to-patient ratios. It’s time for the NSW government to step up.”
Murray MP, Helen Dalton, attended the lunchtime rally in support of local nurses and midwives seeking nurse-to-patient ratios, as well as dozens of community members.