Nurses midwives union express concern over low staffing for Covid surge

Nurses are worried any spike in COVID-19 hospitalisations could overwhelm the health system and its already stretched workforce.

The union representing nurses and midwives in Northern NSW said their members are anxious about what lies ahead for the local health system and are pleading with communities to exercise caution.

They are worried any spike in COVID-19 hospitalisations could overwhelm the health system and its already stretched nursing workforce.

According to the union, while the state focuses on reopening after 15 weeks in lockdown, local nurses and midwives are ‘on tenterhooks’ about staffing shortages in Northern NSW public hospitals.

NSW Nurses and Midwives Association General Secretary Brett Holmes said widespread staff shortages were compounded by pandemic fatigue, particularly in regional areas like Northern NSW, where more than 160 full-time equivalent vacancies have been reported across the Local Health District.

“Prior to the pandemic, many public hospitals were struggling with staff shortages and relying on nurses and midwives’ goodwill to accept regular overtime requests to keep their services open,” said Mr Holmes.

“Unfortunately, that reliance hasn’t dissipated and now we’re hearing there are currently 163 full time equivalent nursing vacancies in Northern NSW, with most in critical care, emergency, or medical and surgical departments.

“Our members at Lismore, Tweed, Grafton and the surrounding regions are all anxious about what lies ahead, given they have a very limited casual or agency pool to draw from. This is taking a toll on the remaining nursing staff, who often feel compelled to keep accepting overtime requests.

Extra strain on resources

Northern NSW Local Health District acting Chief Executive Lynne Weir said there was no denying that Covid had placed extra strain on health resources, and said local staff had done an outstanding job of responding to the demands placed on themselves.

She confirmed there were 163 full time nursing and midwifery vacancies across Northern NSW Local Health District, which represents around 6.7 per cent of the workforce.

“From the outset of the pandemic, Northern NSW Local Health District has been actively increasing its staffing and upskilling its workforce in readiness to care for COVID-19 patients in our region,” she said.

Ms Weir said an additional 62 nurses were recruited across the district, including Assistants in Nursing, Enrolled Nurses and Registered Nurses.

“Between mid-2012 and mid-2021, (the health district) increased its workforce by an additional 1,219 full-time equivalent staff – an increase of 32.3 per cent including 211 more doctors, 461 more nurses and midwives, and 141 more allied health staff,” she said.

“We also have a large casual pool of nurses to provide additional workforce.”

Ms Weir said of the current vacancies, around 65 per cent are at various stages of recruitment.

Calls for nurse-to-patient ratios

Mr Holmes said the nurses and midwives union called on the NSW Government to prioritise the health and wellbeing of all nurses and midwives by introducing nurse-to-patient ratios on every shift, in every ward across the state.

Registered Nurse Ellie Taylor conducts a COVID-19 test.

“Our members have done the hard yards in extremely tough circumstances and there’s still a way to go, but the best way forward is to deliver statewide nurse-to-patient ratios,” Mr Holmes said.

“The NSW Government must listen to nurses and midwives on the frontline and not ignore the fact Queensland, Victoria and Canberra all have ratios. We need a better health system in NSW and to achieve that, you need more staff.”