Border comparison highlights ‘crazy’ state of NSW hospitals

You’re better off ending up in a Wodonga hospital than across the river in Albury, union organisers say.

Nurses and midwives working over the New South Wales border say comparing the care in Victorian hospitals highlights the need for staffing ratios.

Amid a state-wide 24-hour strike by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, about 70 staff gathered outside the Albury Base Hospital for a two hour period on Thursday.

This is the third time nurses and midwives have walked off the job this year, demanding fixed nurse-to-patient ratios in the state‘s hospitals.

Albury Base Hospital Branch President Geoff Hudson said about 94 per cent of local members had voted to participate in the action.

“What we’re asking for, it’s really for our community, it‘s for our patients,” he said.

“Over the border we see the stark difference between the two states.”

He said a patient at Albury would often get less than 10 minutes of face time with a nurse every hour.

Patient ratios have been enshrined in Victorian legislation since 2015 and currently dictate one nurse should be rostered for every four patients in medical and surgical wards and one nurse for three patients in emergency departments.

The Association is asking for similar requirements in the NSW public hospital system.

Mr Hudson said the standard of care provided to patients is impacted by the lack of staffing, with nurses at the protest sharing “horror stories”.

“It’s really crazy for us looking over the border to Wodonga where they have these ratios,” he said.

“It makes the difference when they’re able to spend more time with each patient.”

60 rallies were held outside hospitals across New South Wales.