Nurses and midwives pushing Nurse-4 Patients Campaign

On the 24th November NSW public health system nurses and midwives will be taking industrial action to push their 1 Nurse – 4 Patients campaign. The NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA) committee, along with nurses around Australia is claiming nurse shortages and poor skill mix has hindered the public health system for far too long, risking patient safety.

The committee is calling for a major reform of the state’s public healthcare system, through the introduction of mandatory, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in public hospitals and community healthcare services.

This will be the first state-wide nurses strike since 2001. General Secretary of the New South Wales Nurses Association, Brett Holmes, says it is a last resort. During Wednesday’s strike, nurses will hold a Special General Meeting of the NSWNA to hear a report back from NSWNA officers on the current state of negotiations with the State Government and endorse the next major steps in the campaign.

Striking nurses in regional and rural areas, who are unable to get to Sydney, will hold activities in their local area.