SHOALHAVEN nurses and midwives will join colleagues from across the state, walking off the job today as part of the state-wide protest over staff-patient ratios.
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Staff at every public hospital across NSW will strike for two or more hours to protest against what they say is the state government’s failure to provide safe nurse-patient levels.
The union wants a ratio of one nurse to four patients in every hospital not just in the metropolitan areas of Sydney.
Nurses from the Shoalhaven will travel to Sydney Olympic Park to attend a special general meeting of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, while up to 100 more South Coast nurses are set to converge on Bomaderry Bowling Club to watch a live feed of that meeting, from 11.30am to 1pm.
NSWMA regional organiser Mark Murphy said nurses and midwives know the importance of ratios can not be understated.
“We need to have the expansion of ratios in hospital wards across the board,” Mr Murphy said.
“The support for this day of action demonstrates to the state government that nurses and midwives have had enough - they are standing up for themselves, and for their patients.”
An Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District spokeswoman confirmed the hospitals across the district would be adequately staffed.
“Some nursing and midwifery staff from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Health District will take part in stop work action,” she said.
“ISLHD has plans in place to minimise any potential disruption to services.
“Appropriate staffing will be maintained during any action to ensure patients are cared for safely.”
