AN INDUSTRIAL Relations Commission (IRC) senior representative has toured Tamworth hospital to see and hear what has been worrying nurses and midwives about new departments and staffing.
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IRC deputy president Rod Harrison had visited the hospital yesterday "and viewed for himself the layout of the emergency and maternity services", NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) general secretary Brett Holmes said.
"He certainly had a good look around and was provided with more information about the services there. "Discussions are still under way he hasn't made any comment out of today's visit but we are confident he now has a better understanding of the concerns from our members about the impact of the layout on staffing."
Those concerns focus on the new emergency department, pictured, where the triage and resuscitation areas are further apart than in the old ED.
Nurses had refused to move into the new ED until they were assured of having a nurse to fill each role rather than one nurse to cover both as originally planned.
That stalemate was resolved last week after the IRC recommended the work ban be lifted and the positions staffed separately.
The union wants that arrangement to be made permanent, as well as extra nursing hours on the night roster.
In maternity, the union is pushing for more staff to cover the new birthing and postnatal units.
Mr Harrison's visit was just one of the chances this week for nurses and midwives to air their concerns about ongoing industry issues and those raised by the opening of new hospital facilities.
The 70th Annual Conference of the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, which started in Sydney yesterday, will conclude tomorrow with the day set aside for delegates' resolutions to be debated.
The theme for the union conference is "70 years: still putting patient safety first".
Mr Holmes said among the topics to be discussed at the conference tomorrow would be adequate and safe staffing arrangements, particularly in emergency and maternity at Tamworth.
"The ongoing top issue for nurses is about nurse-to-patient ratios and trying to get a reasonable workload for our members," Mr Holmes said.
"This is very relevant to the situation we're facing at Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital, where our members continue to express their concerns about the staffing levels."