The COVID-19 global pandemic has put pressure on the NSW Health system for the last two years, especially on frontline workers who have worked tirelessly to keep the community safe and healthy through vaccination clinics and hospital admissions including those in ICU.

Recently, there have been ongoing discussions between the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and the NSW Government for a pay rise and better staff to patient ratios as they look to retain the current number of qualified health professionals.

There were to be rallies across the state in protest of the above conditions today and the Lismore App understands a rally was organised for nurses and midwives at Spinks Park in Lismore at 10am with nurses from Tweed to Grafton.

The NSW Government released a statement yesterday afternoon regarding the proposed statewide nurse protest.

At around 6:40pm yesterday, a spokesperson from NSW Health said the NSW Government and NSW Health had engaged in talks with the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association. 

To minimise disruption to important health services and to ensure safe and high-quality patient care is maintained, NSW Health also sought the assistance of the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).  

This afternoon, the IRC ordered the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association to immediately cease organising and refrain from taking any form of industrial action tomorrow. It also must not authorise or encourage members of the union to organise or take industrial action.

These orders will remain in force until 4pm on Monday 14 March 2022 or until further order of the Commission. 

NSW Health acknowledges that any strike action would cause disruptions and delays to health services throughout the state. Whilst Local Health Districts have plans in place to minimise potential disruptions and delays, to ensure all those in need of emergency and urgent care continue to receive it as quickly as possible. NSW Health urges the union to comply with the orders handed down by the IRC. 

Background: 

NSW Health acknowledges the health workforce has worked tirelessly during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. NSW Health recognises and is thankful for its committed workforce. 

The current award ratio framework was adopted by NSW Health and the Nurses and Midwives Association with the support of the Industrial Relations Commission in 2010-11.  

The flexible staff to patent ratio system of ‘nursing hours per patient day’ used in a range of wards across NSW Health is a multifaceted approach and considers the numbers of patients, their complexity, acuity and care needs - while also allowing for the professional judgement of nurses, nurse managers and workforce managers to adjust staffing levels to reflect the changing care needs of patients.  

The nursing hours per patient day model helps to ensure the right number of nurses in the right place at the right time.  

There are more nurses and midwives in NSW public hospitals than at any other time in history. Since the start of the pandemic, NSW Health has engaged in forward planning with clinicians to ensure our hospitals have capacity to care for COVID-19 patients and meet workforce surges if required.  

Between 2012 and 2021, the nursing workforce and midwifery workforce in NSW increased by 9,599 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, or 23 per cent, to 51,794 FTE. The NSW Government is also investing in a further 5,000 nurses and midwives from 2019-2022 under a record $2.8 billion boost to frontline staff.  

Union leaders have said it is too late and the protests will go ahead so now it remains to be seen whether the nurses and midwives union will defy the orders of the IRC and go ahead with this mornings strike at Spinks Park.