Nurses are concerned they will need more help at night when the redeveloped emergency department officially opens on Thursday.
The new emergency unit is almost twice the size of the existing unit, with an additional six beds in the acute section and four beds in the short stay unit.
NSW Nurses and Midwives Association branch members at Lismore are calling on hospital management to consider an extra 12-hour shift, seven nights a week, to ensure patients can be safely cared for.
NSWNMA general secretary Brett Holmes said understaffing at new hospitals was a common theme across the state.
‘The chronic staffing issues we experienced shortly after Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, Dubbo and Byron Bay prove that more planning needs to be done prior to ensure patient safety is not compromised,’ Mr Holmes said.
‘It’s common sense that an increased footprint should require additional staff.’
‘Add to that an average 10 to 15 per cent increase in demand at new facilities and you’re walking into a disaster by staffing according to the old facility.’
Lismore Base Hospital branch members held an extraordinary branch meeting late Friday where they resolved to appeal for the additional overnight shift.
They have requested a written response from management by the close of business today (Monday, 29 August).
Mr Holmes said if the request was declined then the branch would reconvene to consider its options before moving to the new ED on Thursday.
‘It’s always challenging to adapt to a new working environment. We hope management will make the right decision to avoid another situation of inadequate staffing that has the potential to affect staff and patient safety.’
He said the NSWNMA would continue to assist the Lismore Base Hospital branch to achieve a safe level of staffing.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
