Tweed nursing jobs remain vacant despite being advertised due to pending report into community healthcare

A long-awaited report into community healthcare is being blamed for a number of nursing jobs remaining vacant in the Tweed — despite positions being regularly advertised.

NURSING jobs remain vacant in the Tweed despite positions being regularly advertised.

Northern NSW Local Health District workers have blamed the staffing issues on uncertainty surrounding the long-awaited release of a report into community healthcare.

District chief executive Wayne Jones responded to concerns from Tweed Community Nurses branch secretary Rosalie Scott and her colleagues, who have protested in the Tweed.

TWEED NURSES STRETCHED IN HOSPITAL CRISIS

Rosalie Scott fears patients were being placed on long waiting lists, or not getting the treatment they required.

Earlier this week, Ms Scott said she feared patients were being placed on long waiting lists, or not getting the treatment they required.

The Health Services Union and NSW Nurses and Midwives Association have called on NSW Health to release a draft report on the Community Health Services review.

OTHER NEWS:

Residents up in arms over ‘pretend KFC’

Second M1: Residents furious after new map revealed

Flowers thrown into ocean at memorial for Ravneet

Ms Scott said there was “numerous” vacancies in the health district, including in audiometry and men’s health, which she attributed to wariness around the pending report.

HOW HOSPITAL CRISIS AFFECTS THE GOLD COAST

Mr Jones said positions were vacant, but it was not for a lack of trying. (Photo by STR / AFP)

Mr Jones said positions were vacant, but it was not for a lack of trying.

“Of almost 70 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) nursing positions across Tweed, Murwillumbah and Byron community nursing, 3.1 FTE are currently not permanently filled due to the Community Health review,” he said.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN — JUST $1 FOR THE FIRST 28 DAYS

“These positions are being either fully or partially backfilled to ensure that any impact on patient care is kept to a minimum.

“NNSWLHD actively attempts to fill vacant positions through permanent or temporary recruitment.

“Despite regularly advertising vacancies, we have been unsuccessful in recruiting to certain positions, such as nurse audiometry.”

“Despite regularly advertising vacancies, we have been unsuccessful in recruiting to certain positions, such as nurse audiometry.”

Mr Jones did not touch on claimed increases of “three month rolling contracts” in the district.

But he said the release of the “review document” was extended to allow the district to “consider several strategic framework documents being developed by the NSW Ministry of Health which relate to community health”.

He said once those documents are available the review will be finalised and a report released.

“We have an excellent, highly dedicated workforce, and we actively manage staffing levels to ensure that we continue to meet the health care needs of the community,” Mr Jones said.

He did not give a timeframe on the release of the report.