Nurses and midwives rallied in their own time on Wednesday (June 16) outside the Manning Base Hospital to call for safe staffing and to highlight the concerns being raised at the rural, regional and remote health inquiry.
NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) members have asked the NSW government to overhaul staffing in multiple wards and units at Manning Base Hospital, including mandated nurse-to-patient ratios of one to three (1:3) in emergency and post-natal maternity wards, and 1:4 on other wards.
NSWNMA general secretary, Brett Holmes, said Bureau of Health Information data out on Wednesday confirms emergency department attendances at Manning Base Hospital jumped 4.83 per cent (or 8863) during January-March 2021, compared to the same quarter last year.
He said the NSW government was ignoring nurses and midwives, and had refused to discuss their staffing issues.
"Our members are burning out and tired of feeling taken for granted by this government. Concerns for their professional registration and patient safety are very real," Mr Holmes said.
"It is shameful how nurses and midwives are being treated in Taree. We desperately need ratios to ensure our hospitals are safe for everyone accessing care and for the staff trying to deliver care.
"Victoria and Queensland have had mandated nurse-to-patient ratios for more than five years. It's time for NSW to catch up."
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