Nurses and midwives working at Northern Beaches Hospital today marked their first day in the NSW public health system, after campaigning for more than a decade against the privatisation of the facility.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Michael Whaites, said this day had been a long time coming for our members.
“We are relieved that this milestone has finally arrived, after raising staffing and safety concerns at Northern Beaches Hospital for years,” said Mr Whaites.
“Today is a chance to not only celebrate the hospital going into public hands but also acknowledge that this should never have occurred in the first place.
“Our union began fighting against the privatisation of Northern Beaches Hospital 13 years ago, when we warned the previous Coalition government its public private partnership (PPP) would be detrimental to the people of the Northern Beaches.
“We campaigned long and hard against Northern Beaches being privately run and owned, holding rallies outside the hospital, as well as at the former Manly and Mona Vale hospital sites.
“We defeated the Coalition’s privatisation plans for five regional hospitals – Bowral, Wyong, Goulburn, Maitland and Shellharbour – but unfortunately Northern Beaches went ahead.
“There is overwhelming evidence that PPPs are not the right model for delivering public healthcare services to the community, and we are extremely pleased to see another failed PPP transferred to public ownership.”
NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Katrina Bough, said today was a significant moment in the history of the Northern Beaches Hospital.
“Nurses and midwives working at Northern Beaches Hospital have fought long and hard for this win, advocating for safe patient care and quality health services every step of the way. They never gave up the fight to have the hospital taken out of private hands,” said Ms Bough.
“Our members also strongly advocated to ensure their entitlements were carried over, and the recent tax ruling on the transition of annual leave was a key union win for nurses and midwives.
“Staff are looking forward to their conditions improving, including having nurse-to-patient ratios like their public hospital colleagues, which will lead to a safer workplace and quality care that the Northern Beaches community deserves.”
