Baringa Hospital nurses, midwives consider jobs elsewhere after rejecting Ramsay Health Care offer

Rushed, stressed and underpaid nurses at Coffs Harbour’s only private hospital have kicked off their first ever industrial action after rejecting a pay and conditions offer. Here’s the latest.

Ramsay nurses at Baring Private Hospital in Coffs Harbour, Di Scherr after hours nurse unit manager, Melissa McDonough registered nurse and Tara Alamo registered nurse.

Ramsay Health Care nurses are adamant that without improvements to pay and conditions nurses will remain stressed, rushed and struggling to make ends meet.

While some Baringa Private Hospital nurses have been looking elsewhere for work, Melissa McDonough, a registered nurse at Coffs Harbour has joined industrial action.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) has been supporting Ramsay nurses and midwives to raise their voices and advocate for better staff to patient ratios – and a pay increase.

NSWNMA members have been wearing badges and sharing stickers in their first ever protected industrial action against Ramsay Health Care.

Ms McDonough, acting as Baringa’s NSWNMA representative, said both the badge and the stickers have prompted conversations.

“If patients or community members ask us, why we’re wearing a badge, we’re explaining it’s for better ratios and better pay,” she said.

“And, I think there was one patient the other day that was planning on writing a letter to the Ramsey CEO.”

Ramsay nurses donning their badges that says ‘I’m taking action for fair pay and ratios’ at Baring Private Hospital in Coffs Harbour. Di Scherr after hours nurse unit manager, Melissa McDonough registered nurse and Tara Alamo registered nurse.

The action has kicked off as negotiations continue on the next three-year Enterprise Bargaining Agreement between Ramsay Health Care and the NSWNMA.

NSWNMA general secretary Shaye Candish said Ramsay’s recent pay rise offer in the negotiations was unacceptable.

“Ramsay’s most recent offer of 11 per cent over three years is well below inflation and does not address cost of living pressures,” she said.

The NSWNMA is seeking an 18 per cent increase over three years.

Ms McDonough says without a pay increase nurses and midwives are struggling to make ends meet in a housing and cost of living crisis.

“Housing costs are very expensive and it’s hard to get a rental,” she said.

“Nurses are turning up to work very stressed on how they’re going to pay the bills.

“People are talking about looking for work elsewhere,” she said.

The industrial action is also calling for better staff to patient ratios.

“Our patient care comes first before anything else,” Ms McDonough said.

“But generally we have six patients per nurse so it can be unsafe at times.

“It’s very rushed when you’ve got six patients because you have a limited time to meet their needs,” she said.

Ms Candish said if Ramsay did not come to the party on ratios and pay, nurses and midwives were prepared to stick it out.

“This industrial action could escalate to work bans and stoppages if Ramsay doesn’t budge on its offer,” she said.

In response, Ramsay Health Care said its proposal was “consistent with public sector wages, and provides more flexibility, greater control and other benefits”.

“We will continue to negotiate in good faith and look forward to achieving a new enterprise agreement with our nurses and midwives,” a Ramsay spokeswoman said.

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