Blacktown nurses call for new staff-to-patient ratio
Blacktown’s nurses say they are overworked and forced to miss breaks in order to cope with demand, as they continue a campaign for a new staffing system that will “save lives”.
Blacktown
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blacktown. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Blacktown Hospital nurses say they are forced to work through breaks to meet demand at one of Sydney’s busiest hospitals, as they call for new nursing ratios that will “save lives”.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association has lobbied the State Government to scrap its current staffing system and bring in a mandated ratio of one nurse for every four patients in every ward in NSW.
More than 50 nurses briefly protested at Blacktown on Monday afternoon, as association branch president Christine Boxsell said the current system left nurses “short on the floor”.
“Nursing hours per patient day continue to drop, overtime is ramped up, nurses are getting tired,” she said.
“They (patients) get the important things but the little touches that make things bearable, we just don’t have the time to do it.
“It just hurts us that people aren’t getting that personal care they really need.”
But Blacktown Hospital director of nursing Danielle Levis said the State Government had “dramatically increased” frontline health staff since 2011.
“In the past 12 months, about 160 nursing and midwifery staff have been recruited to Blacktown and Mt Druitt hospitals,” she said.
The sticking point for nurses, Ms Boxsell said, is that the current system is based on the number of patients in a ward taken every 12 hours, and does not cater for influxes in between.
Blacktown Hospital saw 52,000 patients present to emergency in the last 12 months, with 31 per cent waiting more than four hours for treatment.
It is currently undergoing a $700 million redevelopment under the Berejiklian Government.
Opposition health spokesman Walt Secord said activism across the state had convinced NSW Labor to bring in ratios if elected next year.
“They’re good for nurses, they’re good for doctors, but most importantly they’re best for patients,” he said.
“If we’re elected in March we will have dozens more nurses at Blacktown Hospital.
“When I hear about a nurse that’s working through breaks I’m conflicted; that’s a nurse who is dedicated but is not looking after themselves.”
An emotional Blacktown state Labor MP Stephen Bali praised the local nurses who cared for his mother, who passed away earlier this year.
“My mum spent. three or four months in hospital,” he said.
“Having nurses coming in and simply asking how she is … in our moment of need, thank you very much. That’s why we need (ratios).”
Prospect state Labor MP Hugh McDermott and Labor Seven Hills candidate Durga Owen also spoke in favour of the ratios.
But Ms Levis said they continue to recruit nurses and expand the workforce.
“Safe and effective staffing in nursing and midwifery involves more than just numbers of staff; it is about making sure we have the right number of staff in the right place at the right time and adjusting staffing to meet activity and patient complexity,” she said.
Ms Levis said the protest had no impact on patient care.