THERE’S been a small win for nurses in Tamworth hospital’s emergency department after management agreed yesterday to temporarily increase staffing levels.
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The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and Hunter New England Health have been at loggerheads since the hospital’s new ED opened in July over staff numbers, particularly on the night shift.
They were further incensed when the health service ignored a recommendation on August 20 from the
Industrial Relations Commission of NSW that it provide an additional 10 nursing hours in emergency on the night shift, on a two-month trial basis.
Yesterday, staff were cautiously welcoming the move by management to add an extra nurse to the night shift, at least in the short term.
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson met with staff and management representatives, including Tamworth hospital general manager Brad Hansen, yesterday and said the roster change had been made possible by using one of the positions allocated to the yet-to-be-opened short stay unit within the ED.
That unit’s expected to open within weeks however, at which point the position will be returned there.
Mr Anderson acknowledged it was a temporary solution, but said it would allow the change to be trialled and assessed.
“It’s a good interim solution and if the need is still there for the ED (after the short stay unit opens) then it’s agreed I will be pushing for that extra person,” he said.
“The staff I spoke to are happy a local solution has been found.
“They are apprehensive about the long-term but they’re willing to give it a go.”
Nurses association assistant general secretary Judith Kiejda told The Leader it relieved some of the immediate “angst” for staff, but “didn’t solve the problem” in both the ED and the new maternity unit.
She said it would at least allow the extra position to be trialled, in line with the industrial relations commission’s recommendation, and staff would be carefully documenting how it was improving their situation.
A community forum will be held in Tamworth tomorrow night to raise awareness about the staffing issues at Tamworth hospital and their implications for the general public.
The forum will be held in the Russell Room at the Tamworth Services Club, with a 6pm for 6.30pm start, and to conclude by 8pm.
