Health Minister Brad Hazzard ‘disappointed’ as thousands of NSW nurses and midwives walk off the job

A union claims some 5000 nurses and midwives showed up for a protest outside NSW parliament to bring attention to one issue.

Thousands of nurses walked off the job and marched on the NSW parliament on Tuesday morning to protest what they say is a staffing crisis in the health system.

Chants of “shame” were heard as nurses and midwives in scrubs – some of whom banged on pots and carried bullhorns and signs – brought Macquarie Street traffic to a standstill for about an hour.

NSW Nurses and Midwives Association president O’Bray Smith addressed the crowd, saying “crisis talks” with Health Minister Brad Hazzard the day before had failed.

“What did they offer us? Nothing,” she told the crowd.

The NSWNMA claimed 5000 members showed up outside parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The protest coincided with the first sitting day of the year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

“Yesterday we sat in front of the minister and the Ministry of Health and we were mansplained about life in health.

“Let me tell you – I will not be lectured about safe staffing by these men.”

The union demanded the government commit to fixed nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals.

In a general medical ward, for example, each nurse shouldn’t have to handle more than four patients at a time, NSWNMA general secretary Brett Holmes said.

“We want guaranteed ratios on every shift, so if they know how many patients they have in a ward, they can know how many staff they’ve got,” Mr Holmes told NCA NewsWire.

Sue O'Hara and Kate Lawrence were among the protesters. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The strike saw thousands of nurses and midwives walk off the job. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Inside parliament, MPs were gathered for the first sitting day of the year, and the nurse strike dominated Question Time in the afternoon.

Premier Dominic Perrottet told the parliament he would be willing to sit down with the NSWNMA, and also said Health Minister Brad Hazzard was in “constant, constant dialogue” with the union.

“There is no doubt that many of those issues are complex, in relation to ratios, in relation to pay,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We want to make sure we provide as much support as we can for all our frontline health workers.”

Opposition Leader Chris Minns told reporters the government needed to do more to reach an agreement with the union.

The union demanded better working conditions for health staff. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

But even he wouldn’t commit to introducing nurse-to-patient ratios if Labor would win the next election.

“Look, we’re not ready to announce our election promises today,” he said.

“I think people appreciate that it's an expensive and complicated public policy issue, they’d expect the NSW Opposition to negotiate and communicate with nurses’ representatives before a decision was made”

Tuesday’s 24-hour strike was the biggest of its kind in nearly a decade.

The union claimed the crowd outside parliament was 5000 strong, and said thousands more participated in the strike in other parts of the state.

Thousands of nurses and midwives showed up. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Health Minister Brad Hazzard met with representatives from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association on Monday. Picture: Christian Gilles / NCA NewsWire

There were rallies in several regional communities as well, including in Albury, Bathurst, Dubbo, Newcastle and Port Macquarie, the union said.

The strike went ahead despite a ban by the Industrial Relations Commission on Monday.

“It’s unfortunate, I’ll put it that way, that having the clear decision of the IRC and having in mind the government has actually been open – I had an hour and 10 minute talk with them yesterday morning,” Mr Hazzard told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Tuesday.

Mr Hazzard said senior NSW Health officials had advised him having fixed staff-to-patient ratios would “remove flexibility” for hospital managers overseeing wards.