By NIKKI TODD
TWEED nurses have vowed to keep up the fight for improved patient-staff ratios as they continue their industrial campaign against the NSW Government.
More than 120 nurses and midwives took to the streets of Tweed Heads last week, waving banners and chanting slogans, as part of state-wide action calling on the O’Farrell Government to increase staffing ratios to cope with the ever-increasing demand of patient loads.
Nurses from Tweed and Murwillumbah hospitals joined their counterparts from 180 hospitals and community health centres across NSW in attending either a mass rally in Sydney or a smaller meet at one of 17 regional centres across the state.
NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) spokesperson Katherine Rynne, who organised the Tweed Heads meeting, said staff were determined to maintain the fight.
“This is not just about money, the key thing for them is safe patient care,’’ Ms Rynne said.
“They are very firm in their resolve. Their priority is safe patient care and ensuring that people who live in Tweed Heads get exactly the same level of care as those who live in the inner city of Sydney.
“Nurses are feeling that it is their obligation to stand up and fight for this – it’s not just about money, it is something that is really heart-felt – they are really resolved.’’
Ms Rynne said further action was planned for September 17, with a decision on what type of action to take place to be made in coming weeks.
“They are certainly wanting to make sure that the State Government hears them – they are not going away,’’ she said.
The NSWNMA is calling on the government to extend staffing-patient ratios of one nurse to four patients to all general, surgical and acute inpatient mental health wards in every hospital throughout the state.
It is further calling for ratios of one nurse to three patients in children’s wards and emergency departments and one nurse per patient in intensive care units.
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said she held deep respect for the state’s 47,500-plus nurses and midwives and was committed to improving patient care.
She said her government had employed 4000 extra nurses and midwives since election and supported a 2.5 per cent wage increase (including a compulsory superannuation increase) from July 2013.
But Ms Rynne dismissed the comments, saying nurses were insulted by the pay rise and staffing claims.
