State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, will this week ask the Government what actions it will take to alleviate staffing shortages in the Newborn & paediatric Emergency Transport Service.
The Newborn & paediatric Emergency Transport Service is a statewide service of NSW Health, providing expert clinical advice, clinical co-ordination, emergency treatment and stabilisation and inter-hospital transport for very sick babies and children up to the age of 16 years. The Service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A recent incident involving a local mother and her premature baby highlighted the staff shortages the Service is facing.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“When Parliament resumes this week, I will be asking the Health Minister what the Government is doing to address the shortage of staff in the Newborn & paediatric Emergency Transport Service.”
“A recent incident involving a local mother and her premature baby highlighted the staff shortages in the Service.”
“Nurses at the coalface are affected most by the real issues of staff shortages and the effects on patient care.”
“Nurses are working to their full capacity and beyond. This not only takes a toll on the quality of patient care but also takes a toll on the individual nurses and can manifest as stress, fatigue, family breakdown, and mental health problems.”
“When budgets are cut, it is the nursing budgets that are cut.”
“We need to ensure that this Service is fully staffed and I will be asking the Health Minister to look into the matter.”