NURSES have taken the next step in their fight for greater staffing levels at Tamworth hospital after yesterday’s 4pm deadline for management passed without any move to end the current dispute.
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NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association members are calling on Hunter New England Health to adhere to a recommendation from the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW that it provide an additional 10 nursing hours on night shift in the emergency department on a trial basis, and had given them until yesterday afternoon to implement the rostering changes.
But after management ignored the latest deadline, the association was quick to announce members would hold a community meeting on Thursday to air their concerns and brief residents on just how serious the situation had become.
Local branch secretary Jill Telfer said the union had been hopeful that management, “in a show of good faith”, would put the trial measures in place, but, when it became apparent this was not going to happen, they had been given no choice but to consider their next move.
“We’re now asking the community to get behind us ... and start contacting their local member and (the health service) to demand that this staffing issue be addressed,” Mrs Telfer said.
“We hope they’ll come along and become better informed, because it’s the community’s hospital, and we need good services, we deserve them, the same as anyone else.”
Mrs Telfer described the staffing situation in the maternity unit as “ridiculous” and the situation in the ED as almost as critical, with staff disappointed their concerns had been ignored.
“They’re frankly devastated that there’s been so little respect for them and so little concern for the people of Tamworth,” she said.
Yesterday, hospital general manager Brad Hansen maintained the stance that the health service didn’t think the recommended changes were necessary and denied the decision was related to budget concerns.
He said the emergency and maternity departments were appropriately staffed in accordance with the award and contemporary care models, and they would continue to monitor ED activity.
In relation to claims staff were on the verge of leaving because of the stress they were under and concerns for patient safety, he said he hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but that the decisions were being made according to the data.
Health Minister Jillian Skinner has maintained it’s a matter for the local health service and declined to comment.
The community meeting will be held in the Russell Room at Tamworth Services Club at 6pm for a 6.30pm start.