Efforts to rebuild the public health workforce and improve staffing levels beyond emergency departments must be a priority in the NSW government’s upcoming state budget, according to the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA).
The union reiterated calls for better pay and conditions on behalf of more than 54,000 members working in the state’s public hospitals and health services, who are yet to receive an improved pay and conditions offer despite talks commencing over 12 months ago.
Public sector nurses are continuing to juggle pressures across the health system, with the latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) quarterly data showing a rise in the number of triage category 2 (emergency) and triage category 3 (urgent) patients attending EDs, compared to the same period last year.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said despite some changes to BHI reporting, the January to March Healthcare Quarterly data highlighted systemic issues clinical staff continue to navigate while trying to deliver care.
“Four Local Health Districts continued to exceed the state average for patients leaving their EDs without or before completing treatment, after waiting more than three hours for emergency care,” Ms Candish said.
“The ongoing need for ratios of one nurse to three patients in our EDs is paramount. Work has begun addressing these staffing levels, but there is still a way to go to implement this important health policy in full.
NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Michael Whaites, said with the average length of hospital stays still at six days, and 100,678 patients on the elective surgery waiting list at the end of March 2025, there was more work to do.
“Beyond the EDs, our public hospitals are struggling to cope with the population demands and we are yet to see meaningful efforts by the government to address the ongoing recruitment and retention issues impacting the workforce,” said Mr Whaites.
“Ignoring the interstate pay disparities amongst nurses and midwives will not magically make the issue go away. We are continuing to see nurses and midwives reduce their hours of work or leave the NSW Health system all together, for better pay and conditions in Victoria or Queensland.
“We will continue to take every opportunity we can to raise our members concerns with the NSW government to implore them to act before it’s too late. The upcoming state budget is yet another opportunity for the government to do the right thing and acknowledge the value of these essential workers.”
