Almost 300 nurses from Northern Beaches Hospital are on strike this morning until 9.30am today, 5 November. Manly Observer is on scene and will have a full report later today, which will be updated here.
Medical staff have contacted MO to express concern that the privately run hospital has not delayed elective surgeries while the nurses are unavailable, calling it an unacceptable risk.
NSWNMA Northern Beaches Hospital Branch President, Sheridan Brady, said nurses and midwives at Healthscope deserved better.
“Our nurses and midwives are being pushed beyond what is manageable. We have a professional obligation and a moral conviction to give each patient the care they deserve. Sadly, it’s just not an option to give the best care we are capable of without safe staffing ratios.” Ms Brady said.
“Poor staffing has led to burnout and fatigue and the daily dilemma of not being able to provide consistent quality care has left us broken. Our buckets are empty.”
“We get less annual leave, maternity leave and personal leave than the public sector. Why would any nurse or midwife choose to work for Healthscope?
“The Northern Beaches Hospital is unique. We are a private hospital offering public health services, and this model was implemented by the former state government to replace the Manly and Mona Vale public hospitals. We have been excluded from the Safe Staffing ratios reform promised in the public health system. Our patients deserve the same level of care they would receive at any public hospital.”
A Healthscope spokesperson said in statement this morning:
“We’re disappointed that NSWNMA members are taking industrial action. Our number one priority is to provide our patients with the best possible care, and we have plans in place to ensure business as usual at our hospitals while protected industrial action is taking place.”
“We’ve made what we consider to be a market leading wage offer in NSW with improved conditions and have negotiated with the NSWNMA in good faith. We have listened carefully to staff and consulted with them throughout the EBA process to date, and we will continue to do so as we seek an agreement that’s fair and sustainable for our people and our hospitals. “
The hospital is currently under an independent audit.
Further information to come
