‘Save Our System’: NSW nurses and midwives strike for 24 hours

NSW nurses and midwives walked off the job for 24 hours— but the Labor MPs who previously supported have been suspiciously quiet.

FURIOUS nurses and midwives have slammed all sides of politics and hospital management for refusing to listen to their demands for more pay and better staffing as they staged 24-hour strikes across the state.

Members from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) congregated outside Westmead Hospital and in 60 smaller rallies in the latest round of industrial action.

Nurses detailed harrowing stories of sedated patients pulling out their own tubes because there aren’t enough nurses to manage them -- reiterating their calls for strict staff ratios.

Labor members who had previously been vocal on ratios were curiously silent as staff took to the streets.

Westmead nurse and union delegate Regina Spadavecchia said executives weren’t listening to staff — forcing them to walk off the job.

Western Sydney NSWNMA members rallied together outside Westmead Hospital on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

“We are sick of not being listened to by the government and not being listened to my management,” she said.

Her colleague and fellow union member Anna Zbikowsky revealed harrowing stories of patients losing blood because they weren’t able to look after them.

“There are people taking out their own tubes, because we don’t have a staff. There are no staff to support them,” Ms Zbikowsky added.

On the Central Coast, about 80 members attached to the Gosford Branch rallied on the side of the highway from 6am.

“Ratios will provide a safer system for patients and staff. All nurses are required to deliver safe care,” NSWNMA Councillor and Gosford Branch President Meg Pendrick said.

A number of vocal Labor MPs who spruiked the ratio demands of the union all year were conspicuously quiet as angry healthcare staff staged the third state-wide strike despite coming out in numbers for the first two in February and March.

Staff stood together on the picket line outside Westmead Hospital during the 24-hour walkout. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Labor MPs and key frontbenchers have consistently posed at previous rallies by the NSWNMA calling for strict nurse-to-patient ratios -- a policy leader Chris Minns has refused to adopt seven months out from the state election.

At the Westmead Rally, one union delegate said multiple MPs across both sides of politics as well as government members had refused their invite to attend the rally -- with Greens member Cate Faehrmann the only MP in attendance during key speeches on Thursday morning.

A massive group of nurses and midwives rallied and chanted outside Westmead Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Their silence comes after The Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Minns was walking both sides of the street on the key issue by claiming he “clashed” with the NSWNMA over ratios despite allowing his front and backbenchers to repeatedly do the union’s bidding.

Labor health spokesman Ryan Park told the Telegraph he attended a smaller rally in Wollongong along with local MP Paul Scully but Mr Park, who has previously posted to social media about the need for ratios, made no mention on social media of the rally.

Shadow Attorney General Michael Daley, who previously said “ratios save lives” and posed with ratio signs on social media, also made no mention of the protest on his Facebook or Twitter accounts.

NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish (left) protested alongside nurses in Gosford. Picture: Supplied

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About 80 members protested in Gosford. Picture: Supplied

One member held up a sign that read ‘Save Our System’ at Westmead. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

The loudest Labor voice in the fight for ratios, Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill, also changed her tune.

After making multiple social media and Facebook posts this year calling for ratios -- Ms O’Neill made no mention of the strike on any social media platform, instead promoting local education events in her electorate.

The Telegraph contacted Mr Daley and Ms O’Neill to ask if they attended any rallies.

Backbenchers, including Janelle Saffin, Sonia Hornery and Trish Doyle, continued to speak in favour of ratios despite Mr Minns not revealing his healthcare policy.

Anna Zbikowsky and Regina Spadaveccia took part in the picket line outside Westmead Hospital. Picture: James Gourley

Despite no public support from Mr Minns, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said his failure to condemn the strike was telling.

“If there was one ounce of leadership in him, he would tell them to comply with the industrial relations ruling which was absolutely not to strike.”

NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said the third statewide strike was necessary because of the state government’s “unwillingness to listen to the concerns of highly skilled clinicians about safe staffing and patient safety.”

“We need the NSW government to engage in meaningful discussions on introducing safe nursing and midwifery ratios across our state,” Ms Candish said.

“We all agree the public health system needs widespread improvement and we have put forward a comprehensive solution for many years – we need ratios in NSW.”

Originally published as ‘Save Our System’: NSW nurses and midwives strike for 24 hours