As part of their fight to achieve safe staffing ratios in every ward, on every shift, in every hospital and health service, NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) members joined more than 60 community rallies across last Thursday in the 24-hour walkout.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said the strike was necessary because of the NSW Government’s unwillingness to listen to the concerns of highly skilled clinicians about safe staffing and patient safety.
“We need the NSW Government to engage in meaningful discussions on introducing safe nursing and midwifery ratios across our State,” Ms Candish said.
“We all agree the public health system needs widespread improvement and we have put forward a comprehensive solution for many years – we need ratios in NSW.
“What nurses and midwives are seeking is not unreasonable. The NSW Government must prioritise patient care and commit to a safer staffing model with a guaranteed minimum number of nurses and midwives on every shift. The evidence is clear that ratios save lives and reduce costs.”
During the 24-hour strike, life-preserving services were maintained in all public hospitals and health services. Nurses and midwives never take strike action lightly and are advocating for patient safety and better staffing to ensure all communities get the clinical care they deserve.
State MP for Auburn, Lynda Voltz, who also joined the protest at Westmead Hospital, said she’s proud to support the nurses and midwives from Auburn Hospital who have been at the frontline of the health crisis for the past two and half years and are taking action to push for safer staffing.
“Chronic understaffing and under resourcing in our health and hospital system is causing the crisis we see across NSW right now,” she said.