NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association welcomes government talks

Off the back of last week's second statewide strike, the NSWNMA met with Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Finance Minister Damien Tudehope to discuss the widespread staffing crisis gripping the public health system.

NSWNMA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, welcomed the discussions and reiterated the need for the NSW government to address short staffing issues.

"We had the opportunity to discuss the dire staffing crisis in our public hospitals, as well as the extraordinary lengths nurses and midwives are having to go to maintaining health services," said Mr Holmes.

"There is an awareness by government that we need more nurses and midwives to deliver safe patient care and how unsustainable the current working conditions are, particularly for the future.

"We appreciate the pandemic has created challenges for the health system, but it has exposed a myriad of issues, including the need for our nursing and midwifery workforce to be enhanced beyond its normal annual growth.

"It took a huge amount of courage for our members to participate in last week's 24-hour statewide strike. They were angry their ongoing pleas for help and support had been ignored.

"We look forward to continuing meaningful discussions with the government to address the issues our members have raised repeatedly."

Union members from St George Hospitals were among those who went on strike last week.

Mr Holmes said the NSWNMA would continue campaigning for shift by shift nurse-to-patient ratios, better maternity staffing and fair pay.

Meanwhile, the NSWNMA has been summonsed to the Supreme Court for breaching orders issued by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission in relation to strike actions held on February 15 and March 31.

The NSWNMA maintains the recent industrial actions were necessary to advocate for safe patient care and for the wellbeing of a burnout nursing and midwifery workforce across NSW.