South Australian nurses and midwives have elected to take industrial action if their state Liberal Government does not deliver on key patient safety measures.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch) has overwhelmingly decided to take industrial action from next week within its public sector workforce. They are demanding that Government act on safe staffing, improved staff conditions, and a plan for a strong future workforce.
Branch CEO/Secretary Adjunct Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM says that the decision to take action is one that her members do not take likely.
“The sad reality is that nurses and midwives feel they are left with little choice but to take industrial action to get the State Government to sit up and take notice of the patient safety implications that are significantly at risk,” she says.
“Ensuring the delivery of the best possible care to the community is at the heart of what it means to be a nurse or a midwife. Nurses and midwives would much prefer to be getting on with their calling of providing the safe, quality care to South Australians.”
The nature of the action has yet been determined, however Ms Dabars indicated that this would be a decision for public sector nurses and midwives.