Thousands of NSW nurses and midwives are striking across the state from this morning’s shift for 24-hours as they call for a wage increase of 15 per cent to make their wages competitive with other states. 

Around 200 hundred nurses from Tweed, Lismore, Byron Bay, Casino and Clarence Valley to highlight that NSW nurses are the lowest paid in the country. 

The NSW Public Service Association have refused to comment on whether it is appropriate for government policy to be defended by government bureaucrats

The ongoing neglect of the healthcare system in NSW has been demonstrated by data released today that reveals emergency department wait times are at record highs.

Around 5,000 nurses and midwives marched on NSW Parliament yesterday with thousands more joining in around the state, including at Lismore, to seek safer staff-to-patient ratios in the public health system.

Patient ratios, not the current unwieldy, often misinterpreted system that measures patient care needs on an inequitable equation of hours per day, is needed.

What would it take to keep our nurses and paramedics from resigning en masse as the current crisis in the NSW health care system worsens?

Locally and across the state nurses, and paramedics are struggling in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as they are being asked to do double shifts and manage effectively in health system that is struggling to cope. This has led to an increasing number of nurses and paramedics resigning.

Nurses and midwives will be holding lunchtime rallies across the Northern Rivers calling for nurse-to-patient ratios and highlighting widespread issues being exposed at the rural health inquiry, which is due to hear submissions today in Lismore.

A ‘walk with nurses’ was held in Mullum last Friday, and aimed to highlight the concern aged care nurses have around fee structures, safety issues and staff training in order to properly care for our elderly.