16 Local News Thursday, June 17, 2021
Tweed Valley Weekly Locals Supporting Locals
Tweed nurses and midwives walk out
By Jo Kennett BUCKLING UNDER what they say are excessive workloads, nurses and midwives from The Tweed Hospital walked off the job on Wednesday, June 9, over “the NSW government’s refusal to improve staffing levels.” Local NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) members voted in favour of the strike action, which lasted from 3pm to 7pm, and called for the government to introduce nurse-to-patient ratios across multiple wards and units. NSWNMA Tweed Hospital Branch Secretary Pam Barrett said the issues were widespread and staff were frustrated the NSW government had failed to acknowledge their concerns. “We are regularly running over capacity across the hospital because of the growing demands of our local community,” Ms Barrett said. “Ambulance ramping and bed block is occurring constantly in the emergency department, while our maternity services are stretched, and our special care nursery is often under increased pressure.” Ms Barrett said that nurses and midwives were “constantly working excessive overtime” and they were “extremely worried about the limited clinical support available to less experienced nursing staff.” “Being on the border, we are struggling to recruit and retain staff because Queensland hospitals already have nurse-to-patient ratios, better pay and more support for their staff,” Ms Barrett said. “Our branch is very concerned about current staffing levels, not to mention the issues we will face when the new Tweed Hospital is built. “They will not be able to attract staff if the conditions don’t drastically improve – nurses are already heading north. “To date, the NSW government has refused to negotiate with the NSWNMA on introducing nurse-to-patient ratios, similar
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to those operating in Queensland, Victoria and Canberra.” A spokesperson for Northern NSW Local Health District said the action “had no impact on services or patients.” “The Tweed Hospital has a skilled permanent nursing pool which is at full complement, with no current vacancies,” the spokesperson said. “The NSWNMA has lodged an extensive claim that seeks a new ratio model that is more rigid than the current award ratio framework adopted by NSW Health and the Association with the support of the IRC [Industrial Relations Commission] in 2010-11. “Ratios do not reflect modern rostering practices.” The spokesperson said that additional claims for additional staff roles, increased pay and free parking were not accepted. On offer instead is a wage increase in line with the public sector wages policy “which reflects the prevailing economic conditions more broadly.” The spokesperson said the NSW government was planning on employing an extra 5,000 nurses and midwives over the next four years as well as increasing nursing hours.
STRIKE ACTION: Tweed nurses and midwives went on strike over staffing levels recently
Shane Fitzsimmons is coming to the Tweed for a special Landcare and Land Services conference
Shane Fitzsimmons to head up conference By Jonathon Howard COMMISSIONER OF Resilience NSW Shane Fitzsimmons will be the keynote speaker for the NSW Landcare & Local Land Services Conference at Tweed Heads in 2022. Commissioner Fitzsimmons will draw from his experiences as the former Commissioner of the Rural Fire Service (RFS), guiding NSW through the devastating 2019-20 bushfire season, to delve into a range of thoughtprovoking topics. “Our recent experiences – from drought and bushfire, storm and flood, to COVID-19 – have shown us that collaboration is key to improving response, recovery and building resilience into the future,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said. “This event is an opportunity to reflect, consider lessons learnt, and identify ways we can better work together and with the community to improve outcomes for all into the future. “After being so actively involved in the bushfire response as the NSW RFS Commissioner, I’m now in the unique and
privileged position of working with those same communities through their bushfire recovery as the Commissioner of Resilience NSW. “As part of this event, I will share my personal experience of the 2019-20 bushfire season, provide an update on the recovery operation and outline my vision for a more aware, more prepared and more resilient NSW.” Local Land Services Board Acting Chair Allison Harker said farmers, landcarers and community groups also have an opportunity to present at the conference, with expressions of interest now open. “We are looking for presentations and workshops that showcase resilience, as well as how we can rethink, renew and recharge to create a sustainable future,” Ms Harker said. Interested presenters can find out more information and download their expression of interest form at www.nswlandcareconference. com.au/presentations. Conference tickets will go on sale later this year. Interested delegates and exhibitors can find updates at the conference website and by following ‘NSW Landcare and Local Land Services Conference’ on Facebook.
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