More than 160 NSWNMA workplace branches have now notified the NSWNMA office that they will join Wednesday’s (24 July) statewide strike of nurses and midwives, to protest against the O’Farrell Government’s failure to provide guaranteed, safe nurse staffing levels in all public hospitals, public hospital clinical units and community health services and equal ratios in all hospitals around the state.
The list was current as of 7.00pm, Friday 19 July, and more branches are expected to notify the NSWNMA office of their intention to strike before Wednesday. (See full list attached and sorted by Local Health District.) On Wednesday, 24 July, striking nurses and midwives will attend a special general meeting of the NSWNMA. During the strike life-preserving services will be maintained in all hospitals and community health services.
Strike date: Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Meeting time: 11.30am – 1.00pm
Meeting venue: Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Sydney Olympic Park
With live webcast to the following 17 regional centres: Albury, Broken Hill, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Goulburn, Grafton, Griffith, Kempsey, Lismore, Merimbula, Nowra, Orange, Port Macquarie, Queanbeyan, Tamworth, Tweed Heads, Wagga Wagga
(Full venue details will be provided before Wednesday.)
NSWNMA general secretary, Brett Holmes, said the first round of enforceable, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios was introduced into general medical and surgical wards in most NSW hospitals as part of the 2010-11 award negotiated between the NSWNMA and former Labor government.
“In this second round the NSWNMA wants the O’Farrell Government to build on this landmark staffing reform by extending the ratios or guaranteed minimum staffing to more clinical units, including emergency departments, children’s wards, intensive care units, community health services and smaller hospitals. We also want all hospitals to be treated equally, so that the nurse-to-patient ratios are the same in each hospital around the state.
“That means, in summary, minimum legally-enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios such as:
- one nurse to four patients, or a minimum average of six nursing hours per patient per day, in all general medical, surgical and acute inpatient mental health wards in every hospital throughout the state, including all country hospitals;
- one nurse per three children in general children’s wards – about 8.5 hours per child per day.
- one nurse to three patients in emergency departments;
- one nurse per patient in intensive care units, including neonatal ICUs; and
- a maximum of four hours patient contact time per nurse/midwife eight-hour shift in community health services, including most community mental health services..
“These ratios, at a reasonable and affordable cost, will bring a greater level of stability and reliability to the health system and improve patient experiences and outcomes. The O’Farrell Government knows that local and international nursing research shows protecting safe nursing numbers and the RN/RM skill mix delivers better patient outcomes and reduces adverse events, which saves lives and money.
“The recent state budget confirms the state Government can afford to do this, especially as it is a priority for our society and the health system. For a few hundred million dollars a year the state Government can dramatically improve patient care in our public hospitals and community health services through this transformative policy of better matching nursing levels to patient levels. The collateral savings in other areas and the benefits to society will be significant.
“The preliminary evidence from the first round of ratios, or minimum enforceable nursing hours per patient day, confirms they have significantly eased the burden and risk in the areas that have benefited,” Mr Holmes said.
The statewide Ratios put patient safety first campaign was launched in Sydney on Tuesday, 19 March. A record 214 NSWNMA branches, representing more than 36,000 public-sector nurses and midwives throughout NSW, have endorsed the NSWNMA’s ratios and wages claim, which was then formally presented to the NSW Government, through the Health Ministry, on March 11.
Central Coast LHD
|
Branch Name |
Strike Length |
| Central Coast Community Health Nurses | 2 hours |
| Central Coast Mental Health Nurses | 6.5 hours, Sydney, 2 hours, local rally |
| Gosford Hospital | 6 hours, Sydney |
| Gosford Mental Health Unit | 6 hours, Sydney |
| Long Jetty Continuing Care | 0700-1700, Sydney |
| Northern Central Coast | 6.5 hours for Sydney, 2 hours local |
Far West LHD
| Balranald District Hospital | 1 hour, 1300-1400 |
| Broken Hill Base Hospital | 3 hours, 1000-1300 (Central time?) |
Hunter New England
| Armidale Community Health & Hospital | 2 hours for Armidale mtg, 5 hours for Tamworth meeting |
| Barraba District Hospital | 1.5 hrs, Tamworth, plus ban on non-nursing paperwork |
| Belmont District Hospital | 0800-1600 to attend SOP, 24 hours no non-nursing duties, wear red |
| Boggabri Multi Purpose Service | Essential services only 0800-1700 |
| CAMHS Community Nurses | Clinicians 2.5 hrs 1130-1400, attend nearest venue/rally |
| Child and Family Health Nursing Greater Newcastle | 1 hour, local rally |
| Dungog Community Hospital | 4 hours |
| Forster/Tuncurry Community Health Centre | 1 hour, 11.30-1300 including lunch, local rally |
| Gunnedah District Hospital | 4 hrs, 1000-1400, Tamworth, on duty wear red, no non-nursing duties |
| Hunter Area Drug & Alcohol Nurses | 2 hours |
| Hunter Metropolitan Community Nurses | 8 hours |
| Hunter New England Nurse Managers | 1.5 hours Newcastle, 8 hours Sydney |
| Inverell District Hospital | Already on minimum staffing – wear tshirts, badges 4+ hrs |
| John Hunter Hospital | 8 hrs 0700-1530 shift, for Sydney, plus local rally 1115-1315 |
| Kurri Kurri District Hospital | Yes, strike |
| Lower Hunter Cluster Community Health Nurses | 8 hours, Sydney |
| Maitland Hospital | 8 hrs, Sydney, on duty nurses will wear red |
| Maitland Mental Health Unit | 8 hours, Sydney |
| Manilla District Hospital | 1.5 hours, wearing red for day, local rally |
| Manning (The) – Taree | 6 hours, 0900-0500, Port Macquarie |
| Mental Health Centre Waratah | 8 hours, Sydney |
| Morisset Hospital | 6.5 hrs, from 0900, Sydney |
| Muswellbrook District Hospital | 11 hours, Sydney |
| Newcastle Community Mental Health Nurses | 0800-1630 |
| Singleton District Hospital | 2 hours 1330-1530, march in Singleton town centre |
| Tamworth Base Hospital | 24 hours for Sydney, 4 hours for Tamworth |
| Taree Community Health Nurses | Some mbrs striking, length TBD at Monday branch mtg, (?) CBD walk |
| Tenterfield Community Health Service | 1.5 hours, having own meeting |
| Werris Creek District Hospital | 4.5 hours, Tamworth |
Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
| Bulli District Hospital | 1100-1430 wrk to rule theatres, SOP 0900-?1500, other mbrs, local mtg 1100-1330 |
| Coledale District Hospital | 8.5 hours, 0700-1530 |
| David Berry Hospital | 3.5 hours, Nowra |
| Illawarra Shoalhaven Mental Health Nurses | 0700-1930 |
| Milton-Ulladulla Hospital | 6 hours, Nowra |
| Port Kembla Hospital | 8 hours Sydney, 4 hours Bomaderry |
| Shellharbour Public Hospital | 6 hours, Sydney |
| Shoalhaven District Hospital | 2 hours, with some members also attending Sydney |
| South Coast Community Nurses | 8 hours, Sydney, 2 hours, local nurses |
| Wollongong Hospital | 6.5 hours, Sydney |
Mid North Coast LHD
| Coffs Harbour Community Nurses | 1100-1330 |
| Coffs Harbour Hospital | 1100-1330 |
| Coffs Harbour Mental Health Nurses | 1100-1330 |
| Hastings Area Community Nurses | 2 hours, Port Macquarie |
| Kempsey District Hospital | Min 4 hours, max 24 hours |
| Lismore Mental Health | 1100-1400, Lismore |
| Macksville & District Hospital | 5.5 hours, 1000-1530, Coffs Harbour and Kempsey |
| Port Macquarie Base Hospital | 24 hours, 4 hours for webcast |
Murrumbidgee LHD
| Albury Base Hospital | 2 hours, Albury |
| Albury Mental Health Community Nurses | 2 hours, Albury |
| Albury Mental Health Nurses – Nolan House | 2 hours, Albury |
| Barham-Koondrook Memorial Hospital | No non-essential paperwork for the day |
| Cootamundra Hospital | No elective surg for day, wearing badges |
| Griffith Base Hospital | 3 hours |
| Gundagai District Hospital | 4 hours, Wagga Wagga |
| Hay Health Service | 7 hours, local |
| Lake Cargelligo District Hospital | Wearing red, placed ad in newspaper |
| Lockhart & District Hospital | 1.5 hours |
| Lower Western Community Health Nurses GSAHS | 8 hours depending on workload |
| Murrumburrah-Harden District Hospital | 6 hours, 1100-1700, some members going to Wagga Wagga |
| Narrandera District Hospital | 1.5 hrs, 1130-1300 |
| Temora District Hospital | Wear red, no non-nursing duties for the day |
| Tumbarumba Health Service | 4 hours |
| Tumut District Hospital | 1 hr local mtg, 1130, no non-nursing duties, paperwork, no uniforms |
| Wagga Wagga Base Hospital | 2 hours, 1115-1315 |
| West Wyalong Health Service | 24 hours min staffing, stall in main st & will be on call, will tag team |
| Young District Hospital | No non-urgent calls, wearing red, 0830-1330 |
Nepean Blue Mountains LHD
| Blue Mountains Community Nurses | 8 hours, Sydney |
| Blue Mountains District Hospital | 8 hrs, Sydney |
| Blue Mountains Mental Health | 8 hrs, Sydney |
| Lithgow District Hospital | 8 hours, Sydney |
| Nepean Hospital Penrith | 9 hours, 0700-1600, Sydney |
| Nepean Mental Health | 8 hours |
| Springwood Hospital | 1000-1300 |
Northern NSW LHD
| Ballina District Hospital | 3 hours, Lismore |
| Byron Shire Community Nurses | 3 hours, Lismore |
| Casino District Hospital | 2 hrs 45 mins, Lismore |
| Grafton Base Hospital | 3 hours, 1100-1400, Grafton |
| Kyogle Memorial Hospital | 4 hours, Lismore |
| Lismore Base Hospital | 1100-1330 |
| Mullumbimby District Hospital | 1030-1430, on duty nurses will wear red |
| Murwillumbah District Hospital | 3hrs 15min 1045-1400 on duty wear red, no non-nursing duties |
| Tweed Heads Community Nurses | 2 hours |
| Tweed Hospital (The) | 2 hours |
| Tweed Valley Community Nurses | 2.5 hours, 1100-1330, Tweed Heads |
| Urbenville Multi Purpose Service | 2 hours, local off site meeting plus attending Lismore. |
Northern Sydney LHD
| Hornsby & Ku-Ring-Gai Hospital | 3.5 hrs, 1030-1400, Sydney |
| Macquarie Hospital | 3.5 hours, 1030-1400, Sydney |
| Manly District Hospital | 4 hours, 1000-1400 |
| Mona Vale Hospital | 4 hours, Sydney |
| Royal North Shore Hospital | 4.5 hrs, 1000-1430, Sydney |
| Ryde Hospital and Community Health Service | 4.5 hours, 1000-1430, Sydney |
South Eastern Sydney LHD
| Prince of Wales Hospital | 24 hours 0700 Wed – 0700 Thur, Sydney |
| Prince of Wales Mental Health | 5 hours |
| Randwick/Botany Community Nurses | 6 hours, Sydney |
| Royal Hospital For Women | 4.5 hours, Sydney |
| St George Community Nurses | 4 hours, Sydney |
| St George Hospital | 4 hours, 1000-1400 |
| St George Mental Health | 4.5 hours, Sydney |
| Sutherland Hospital | 6 hours, Sydney |
| Sutherland Hospital Mental Health Nurses | 5.5 hours, Sydney |
South Western Sydney LHD
| Bankstown Hospital | 4 hours, Sydney |
| Fairfield Hospital | 4 hours, Sydney |
| Justice Health Nursing Managers Statewide | Essential services only (Mbrs mainly filling in) |
| Liverpool Hospital | 4 hours, Sydney |
| Macarthur | 5 hours, Sydney |
| Macarthur Mental Health | 5 hours, Sydney |
| Wingecarribee Health Service | 1 hour, 1330-1430, local meting |
Southern NSW LHD
| Batemans Bay Hospital | 6 hours, 0930-1530, Nowra |
| Bega District Hospital | 4 hours |
| Bombala District Hospital | 2 hours, 1130-1330, no uniform for day |
| Bourke Street Health Service | 4 hours, Goulburn |
| Braidwood District Hospital | 4 hours, Queanbeyan or Goulburn |
| Cooma Health Service | 6 hours, Queanbeyan |
| Crookwell District Hospital | 3 hours, 1100-1400 |
| Eurobodalla Community Nurses | 6.5 hours, Nowra |
| Goulburn Base Hospital | 4 hours |
| Goulburn Mental Health | 3 hours, local |
| Moruya District Hospital | 6.5 hours, Nowra |
| Pambula District Hospital | 1100-1500, plus wearing blue for day |
| Queanbeyan District Hospital | 1100-1330 |
| Yass District Hospital | Will wear red, no non-nursing work for day, service restrictions |
Sydney Children’s Hospitals
LHD
| Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children | 4 hrs, 1030-1430 |
| Sydney Children’s Hospital | 4 hours, 1030-1430, Sydney |
Sydney LHD
| Canterbury Hospital | 6 hours, 1000-1600, Sydney |
| Concord Centre for Mental Health | 1030-1400, Sydney |
| Concord Repatriation General Hospital | 2 hrs 45 mins, Sydney |
| Inner West Community Health | 1045-1330, Sydney |
| Justice Health Forensic Hospital | 5 hours, Sydney |
| Justice Health Service Statewide | 12 hours, 0700-1900, Sydney |
| Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | 4 hrs, 1000-1400, Sydney |
Western NSW LHD
| Bathurst Base Hospital | 8 hours, Sydney |
| Blayney District Hospital | 24 hours, Orange |
| Canowindra Memorial Hospital | 3 hours, Orange |
| Cobar District Hospital | 2.5 hrs |
| Coonamble District Hospital | 8 hours, Dubbo |
| Cowra District Hospital | 5.5 hours, Orange |
| Dubbo Base Hospital | 8 hrs |
| Dunedoo Hospital | 30 minutes, on min staffing |
| Far West Senior Nurses and Midwives | 3 hours, Broken Hill |
| Forbes District Hospital | 6 hours, Orange |
| Gilgandra District Hospital | 5 hours, Dubbo meeting |
| Grenfell Health Service | 2 hours, own meeting |
| Mudgee District Hospital | 2 hours, own mtg in Church St, Mudgee |
| Nyngan District Hospital | No non-urgent procedures for 4 hours |
| Oberon Multi-Purpose Service | 1 hour, 1230-1330 |
| Orange Base Hospital | 3 hours, Orange |
| Walgett District Hospital | 1200-1300 |
| Wellington District Hospital | 1030-1500 |
Western Sydney LHD
| Auburn District Hospital | 1000-1330, Sydney |
| Blacktown Hospital | 4.5 hours, 1000-1430, Sydney |
| Cumberland Hospital | 4 hours |
| Justice Health Mental Health Silverwater Complex MHSU | 2.5 hours, Sydney |
| Justice Health Mulawa | 3.5 hours, Sydney |
| Mount Druitt Hospital | 4 hours, 1000-1400 |
| Sydney West Community Mental Health Nurses | 4 hours, 1000-1400 |
| Western Sydney Community Nurses | 8 hours |
| Westmead and Parramatta Hospitals | 6 hours, Sydney |
