FRUSTRATED nurses are now asking the community to take an interest in their fight for greater staffing levels as the stalemate between Tamworth hospital nursing staff and management continues.
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As the nurses’ deadline for the health service to implement the recommendation from the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW passed yesterday, they decided to garner more support for their cause from the people who stand to be affected the most.
Nurses want to make it clear the hospital belongs to the community and say it’s time for residents to understand just what they’re fighting for.
It’s a sad situation for everyone, given our brand new hospital has just opened its doors and is something we should all be proud of.
But instead of rejoicing in this state-of-the-art facility the spotlight is being shone very harshly on just whether current staffing “models” are adequate for this “bigger and better” hospital.
Nurses, particularly in the emergency department and maternity, are saying it isn’t – and have been saying so for some time.
Association members say maternity staffing levels have been a concern for almost two years, while ED staff say they warned management as early as February of this year – the new ED was opened in July – that its bigger and different layout would require rostering changes.
Management, for its part, are saying they’re monitoring the situation according to award requirements and the data they’re receiving, and they don’t see a problem.
They even agreed to take the issue to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation, one would hope with the intention of listening to any advice from this “independent umpire”.
But that has not come to pass and the dispute is threatening to worsen, nurses saying the threat to patient safety and their own welfare is great enough for them to continue their fight for as long as it takes.
The association says the stress from double shifts, overtime and concern for their patients is taking a huge toll, with some staff – and quite senior ones at that – considering leaving.
As taxpayers, people expect government departments to watch the purse strings. That’s a given.
But, when such a large group of people are saying that current expenditure is not meeting demand, then it’s time to listen and at least consider some options.
Particularly when it comes to people’s lives.
Community members have a chance to hear from nurses directly next week and make up their own minds.
