State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the State Government to listen to nurses at John Hunter Hospital, after staff shortages have left them at “breaking point” during the worst flu season on record.
Nurses are working double shifts at short notice, when the Hospital is already understaffed. According to reports, staff are nearing burnout. More than one hundred members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) met at John Hunter Hospital on Thursday to discuss the situation.
Ms Hornery is calling on the Health Minister to take steps to immediately improve working conditions for nurses at John Hunter Hospital, and will be working with the NSWNMA to stand up for our nurses.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“Today, I am calling on the Minister for Health to take immediate steps to relieve the pressure on our hard working nurses at John Hunter Hospital.”
“Nurses are nearing burn out as they deal with understaffing and the worst flu season on record. The Government needs to do better for them.”
“Staff at John Hunter Hospital are furious with their treatment by this Government, and they have every right to be.”
“Nurses care deeply about their work and their patients and they will always go out of their way to help, but this is unacceptable. No one should have to work double shifts with no notice three or four times a week.”
“Nurses at John Hunter Hospital are facing a laundry list of issues including the opening of unfunded and understaffed beds, forced excessive overtime, unreplaced sick leave, missed meal breaks and unpaid overtime.”
“I applaud the NSWNMA for stepping in to support the nurses at John Hunter Hospital and I will work closely with them on this issue.”
“Our nurses are doing the best they can, but as they are worked harder with fewer resources, patient care will suffer. The Health Minister needs to act.”