Senior nurses resign over job uncertainty, says union

MANLY hospital may struggle to cope during the peak tourist season if senior staff continue to resign over job uncertainty, a union is claiming.

• Staff threaten to strike over jobs
• 1300 hospital staff needed on northern beaches

MANLY Hospital will struggle to cope during the busy summer holiday period if senior staff continue to resign, it has been claimed.

Manly branch president of the NSW Nurses and Midwife’s Association Lyn Hopper believes the potential crisis has been fuelled by fears over job uncertainty in the lead up to next year’s opening of the new Northern Beaches Hospital.

While floor nurses from Manly and Mona Vale hospitals will automatically transfer to the new hospital when it opens next year, senior staff won’t find out until February.

“There are no guarantees for senior staff and delays in confirming potential roles at the new hospital have resulted in them seeking jobs elsewhere,” Ms Hopper said.

She said there are 30 vacancies across the two peninsula hospitals, and they are struggling to fill them.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Deborah Latta project director at Healthscope pictured at the Northern beaches hospital site. Picture: Damian Shaw.

Ms Hopper said the majority of jobs are for senior nurses in wards, including intensive care, cardiac, general, plus theatres. Other positions include physios, pharmacists, dietitians, a social worker and a fire safety worker.

“If we continue to bleed senior staff, by summer we won’t have enough people to run Manly Hospital,” Ms Hopper said. “What’s happening is positions are being advertised, but we are not getting suitable candidates.

“Who wants to join a hospital that is due to close, with no job security?”

Manly Hospital staff wear blindfolds in protest about lack of progress in job matching for new Northern Beaches Hospital. Picture: Supplied.

The Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest, which will be run by private company Healthscope, is currently under construction and due to open in October next year.

Healthscope said it had received nationwide interest from people seeking work, but staff and doctors at Manly and Mona Vale Hospitals remain a priority.

Mona Vale Hospital staff are complaining about 'being left in the dark'. Picture: Supplied.

In February staff will find out what jobs they have been matched with. If they don’t want that job they will be offered another position in the public sector, but it could be anywhere in NSW.

Last week three unions representing the peninsula’s doctors, nurses and other health staff warned they were considering strike action over the recruitment timetable.

They say they want the job matching to start in November so staff can decide their future over Christmas.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard visits the Northern beaches hospital site, which is due to open in October next year. Picture: Damian Shaw.

A spokesman for Northern Sydney Local Health District said vacancies occur in nursing for many reasons but they were confident the attraction of the new hospital will aid recruitment.

“Recruitment is underway and we expect to fill those positions which can transfer to our state-of-the-art hospital next year,” he said.

He added that latest Bureau for Health Information figures were good for both hospitals despite the beginning of the worst flu season in Australia’s history.