ward closure - Lamp Online

A major western Sydney hospital loses a ward and more than 40 nurses.

Westmead Hospital nurses have called on the state government to provide adequate funding to allow Westmead
Hospital to reopen a 29-bed surgical ward that was shut down with one week’s notice.

The hospital’s NSWNMA branch says the ear, nose and throat; head and neck; and plastics surgical ward, known as B3A, was closed to reduce overall staff numbers and cut costs.

The branch rejected Western Sydney Local Health District’s stated and conflicting explanations for the sudden closure of the ward and transfer of its 47 nurses to vacant positions throughout the hospital.

More than 200 angry nurses rallied outside the hospital in protest against the decision.

Westmead branch delegate Liwayway Besilos said the closure was announced with no consultation and staff were given no time to discuss the impacts on the rest of the hospital.

Nurses were given just one week to advise management where they wished to be transferred to, and not all requests were met.

Unofficial advice to nurses from management confirmed the closure was aimed at reducing the LHD’s budget deficit.

“This explanation is supported by the fact that other areas of the hospital are cutting back on paid overtime and working short-staffed,” Liwayway said.

“The hospital has effectively lost more than 40 full-time positions not including an educator, nurse unit manager and auxiliary staff.”

Western Sydney’s population is increasing

Following the nurses and midwives’ rally the WSLHD LHD executive, Danny O’Connor, said: “It was a terrible winter with the flu season but we don’t need as many beds so we have closed a ward due to demand dropping off.”

Liwayway said that explanation made no sense.

“First, B3A was a specialty surgical ward. The nurses there were familiar with surgeons’ protocols on how to care for their patients post-operatively and these patients would now be placed somewhere else.

“Secondly, members have reported that patients are staying longer in recovery and having to spend the night in day-only areas because there is a shortage of beds to go to in the wards.

“Post-op patients are having to wait longer to go to recovery, which is not the way it should be done.

“The population of western Sydney is increasing, demand for health care is going up, and the government is building a new Westmead hospital facility, which they said was needed to accommodate a growing population. Yet, the WSLHD is closing beds and cutting nursing positions.”

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) has slammed a decision by Western Sydney Local Health District to shutdown an entire 29-bed ward at Westmead Hospital due to budget constraints, following minimal consultation with staff and the community.

Over two hundred nurses and midwives gathered outside Westmead Hospital this afternoon to highlight their disappointment, as well as the disruption to patients and local residents.

The ear, nose and throat; head and neck; and plastics surgical ward, known as B3A, will cease operation from today at the major tertiary referral hospital and stay closed for the remainder of the current financial year.

General Secretary of the NSWNMA, Brett Holmes, said nurses employed in ward B3A were all understandably shocked by the sudden closure and upset they were not given more notice of the decision.

“We are obviously concerned that these cuts may just be the start, not to mention the flow on implications this will have on other wards, particularly Westmead’s already stretched emergency department, over the next eight months,” Mr Holmes said.

“Western Sydney Local Health District has since confirmed all staff will be redeployed within the health service or be encouraged to use any excess leave they may have accrued.

“Asking staff to nominate their preferred transfer options with just one week’s notice is appalling and shows a complete disregard by management toward its dedicated nursing workforce.

“This is a blatant attempt by management to cut costs by reducing its overall nursing numbers at Westmead. Some 47 nursing staff in B3A will be relocated into existing vacant positions throughout the hospital and all patients will have to be accommodated in other wards and units.”

“Western Sydney Local Health District claims the B3A closure is a temporary measure, but given the sudden nature of this shutdown, coupled with ongoing workload issues and lengthy delays in nursing vacancy recruitments, we fear it may be longer,” concluded Mr Holmes.

Westmead Hospital Branch of the NSWNMA has called on NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, to intervene in the current health funding crisis.

Branch members have asked the Health Minister to ensure Western Sydney Local Health District is funded appropriately to operate Westmead and its surrounding hospitals, which serve one of the fastest growing population areas in the state.

Download this media release: Funding woes prompt sudden ward closure at Westmead Hospital