Chief executive Michael DiRienzo said yesterday there had not been any change to the emergency department staffing levels as a result of ongoing discussions with the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association in the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW.

As reported in yesterday’s Leader, the ED is preparing to open a new short-stay unit and these additional staff will return there when it opens. 

“We have started recruiting nursing staff for this new service and some of these staff recently started working in the emergency department to orientate themselves to the facility before starting work,” Mr DiRienzo said.

“We have been planning for this for a long time. It was always the plan to provide these shifts in the lead-up to the opening. These staff will be rostered on to work in the unit once it becomes operational.”

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said yesterday it was still an opportunity to monitor the difference an additional nurse made, in line with concerns from nurses about staffing numbers, particularly on the night shift.

He said he spoke with Health Minister Jillian Skinner about the matter on Tuesday evening and she was happy with the extra shift and had asked to be kept informed once the new short-stay unit opened.

Mr Anderson said he would continue to closely monitor the situation and if the opening of the new unit failed to relieve the concerns of staff, he would be making further representations. 

The short-stay unit is a new addition to Tamworth hospital and is designed to “streamline” patients through the ED. 

“Patients who require observation for less than 24 hours can be cared for in the new unit, freeing-up regular emergency department treatment spaces and reducing short-term patient admissions to the hospital’s main wards,” Mr DiRienzo said.

“This model of care is a proven strategy for improving the flow of patients through emergency departments across the state and I’m pleased Tamworth hospital patients will soon have access to this service.”