Workplace News
Concord nurses and midwives rally for ratios
Fed up with the NSW government’s failure to implement safe staffing, nurses and midwives rallied outside Concord Repatriation General Hospital calling for the urgent introduction of nurse-to-patient ratios.
Members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) Concord Hospital branch are seeking mandated shift-by-shift ratios, including one nurse to three patients (1:3) in emergency, and 1:4 in medical and surgical wards.
NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Judith Kiejda, said nurses were highlighting the desperate need for safe staffing in all hospitals.
“In the past fortnight, over a thousand nurses and midwives have walked off the job, closed beds or rallied at 30 public health sites across the state, no longer willing to accept the poor conditions and extreme pressure they’re being forced to work under,” said Ms Kiejda.
“The only thing keeping our public health system together is the goodwill of nurses and midwives working excessive overtime to try and make sure their patients get the care they need.
“It is shameful how nurses and midwives are being treated. We desperately need ratios to ensure our hospitals are safe for everyone accessing care and the staff trying to deliver care. Victoria and Queensland have mandated nurse-to-patient ratios. It’s time for NSW to catch up.
“The NSW government is on notice. Nurses and midwives won’t back down when it comes to standing up for patients. Any further delay in implementing ratios is a risk to patient and staff safety.”