This year's election candidates are pushing for a requirement of registered nurses (RN's) to work in nursing homes around the clock.
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Five of the six election candidates have pledged to reinstate RN's in nursing homes in NSW for 24-hour support.
The requirement was abandoned by the Baird Liberal-National's government in May 2016, despite protests from groups such as the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) and Alzheimers Australia.
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NSWNMA Gunnedah delegate Heather Franke asked this year's candidates if they would support the revival of the requirement at the Gunnedah leg of the Meet the Candidate event.
"These are people who have worked all their life, have given back to their community and through no fault of their own they end up here for their safety," Mrs Franke said.
"They should have a registered nurse who can make decisions on behalf of them for their health at any time of the day."
Labor's Stephen Mears; Greens' Robin Gunning; Shooters, Fishers and Farmers' Jeff Bacon; and independent Mark Rodda all said they would push for the RN's to be reinstated and would "cross the floor" if it came to it.
Nationals' Kevin Anderson said he had spoken to many nursing homes who had said they couldn't afford to bring back 24-hour RN's.
"Aged care and nursing homes will say they can't afford to put them on because it'll mean they have to sack others," Mr Anderson said.
"That's what they're telling me.
"We’ll keep pushing for our fair share but they just can't do it."