ID :
156312
Sat, 01/08/2011 - 10:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/156312
The shortlink copeid
NSW nurses row closes more than 300 beds
More than 300 beds are now closed in NSW hospitals as industrial action by nurses
escalates.
Further bed closures at metropolitan hospitals are planned for Sunday and Monday,
likely raising the total above 500.
Base hospitals across the north of the state will also start closing beds early next
week, NSW Nurses' Association acting general secretary Judith Kiejda said.
Union members launched the industrial action on Tuesday to pressure the state
government into introducing minimum nursing staff levels.
They want a ratio of one nurse to every four patients - the current standard in
Victoria - to ensure care standards.
The industrial action has already led to some non-emergency procedures being cancelled.
Ms Kiejda said patients undergoing elective and non-urgent surgery would feel the
impact more next week as the closures increase.
Patients will be contacted in advance if their operations or appointments are being
cancelled, she added.
No emergency procedures or care is affected.
"The community is behind us and nurses themselves are very much supporting this," Ms
Kiejda told AAP.
The industrial action began with the closure of more than 150 beds at Sydney's Royal
Prince Alfred and hospitals in Wollongong, Manly, Long Jetty, Taree and other
locations.
The figure rose to 217 late on Thursday.
There were further closures from 7am (AEDT) on Friday, including at Westmead
Hospital, one of Sydney's biggest, and at St George Hospital, in the city's south.
The figure is liable to change because some closed beds are being reopened to
increase emergency capacity.
The closures also include beds not reopened after the Christmas and New Year period.
NSW Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt on Friday reiterated her refusal to negotiate
with the union.
She told ABC Radio that the ratio of one nurse to four patients is not appropriate.
"Having said that, we are very understanding of the Nurses' Association's concerns
around workload," Ms Tebbutt said.
"NSW Health is still looking at all of the issues that the association has raised,"
she said.
"It's just not possible to negotiate in an environment of industrial action."
escalates.
Further bed closures at metropolitan hospitals are planned for Sunday and Monday,
likely raising the total above 500.
Base hospitals across the north of the state will also start closing beds early next
week, NSW Nurses' Association acting general secretary Judith Kiejda said.
Union members launched the industrial action on Tuesday to pressure the state
government into introducing minimum nursing staff levels.
They want a ratio of one nurse to every four patients - the current standard in
Victoria - to ensure care standards.
The industrial action has already led to some non-emergency procedures being cancelled.
Ms Kiejda said patients undergoing elective and non-urgent surgery would feel the
impact more next week as the closures increase.
Patients will be contacted in advance if their operations or appointments are being
cancelled, she added.
No emergency procedures or care is affected.
"The community is behind us and nurses themselves are very much supporting this," Ms
Kiejda told AAP.
The industrial action began with the closure of more than 150 beds at Sydney's Royal
Prince Alfred and hospitals in Wollongong, Manly, Long Jetty, Taree and other
locations.
The figure rose to 217 late on Thursday.
There were further closures from 7am (AEDT) on Friday, including at Westmead
Hospital, one of Sydney's biggest, and at St George Hospital, in the city's south.
The figure is liable to change because some closed beds are being reopened to
increase emergency capacity.
The closures also include beds not reopened after the Christmas and New Year period.
NSW Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt on Friday reiterated her refusal to negotiate
with the union.
She told ABC Radio that the ratio of one nurse to four patients is not appropriate.
"Having said that, we are very understanding of the Nurses' Association's concerns
around workload," Ms Tebbutt said.
"NSW Health is still looking at all of the issues that the association has raised,"
she said.
"It's just not possible to negotiate in an environment of industrial action."
