YOUR WEEKLY INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER
THURSDAY, 17 JULY 2025
ISSUE #495
+ DAILY IN DIGITAL CoastCommunityNews.com.au
Annual scholarship concerts a success
SEE PAGE 16
News
P8-9 Special report on homelessness crisis
Out&About
P13 The junior performers
Chronic staff shortage at our hospitals Central Coast nurses and midwives say they are facing widespread understaffing at Gosford and Wyong hospitals this Winter. They held an own time rally on Monday, July 14, to escalate their concerns. Members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) raised the alarm after Gosford Hospital experienced a ‘code yellow’ emergency last month when patient demand exceeded the hospital’s resources. NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said an influx of patients had prompted Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) to open more than 50 Winter surge beds at both Gosford and Wyong hospitals to meet the demand, but staffing challenges meant they were often under resourced.
Nurses rallied to protest staff shortages on July 14
“Our members have described incidents of severe short staffing on the cardiac and neurology wards at both Gosford and Wyong hospitals, as well as in the oncology ward at Gosford,” she said.
“These are some of the most critically unwell patients seeking specialised treatment in their local facility and they deserve safe, quality care. “Patients are being treated in
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corridors at Gosford Hospital, which is a telling sign that demand for acute care is not being adequately managed by the Local Health District. “We are also aware the Local Health District has been using casual nurses to cover their winter surge areas, while relying on regular nursing staff to pick up overtime shifts for shortages on the other wards. “We have been escalating these staffing concerns for months now,” she said. “Nurses and midwives up and down the Coast are extremely disappointed by the lack of action being taken to address the staffing shortages. “Surged beds have now become the norm and there has been no additional injection of health funding into this region, despite the growing population and increased admission.
P16 Waltzing the Wilarra headed for Gosford
Sport
P31 Eagles take Ice Hockey Cup at Erina PUZZLES PAGE 18
Continued page 3 Image by: Syl Marie