Unqualified staff being used to replace Assistant in Nursing (AiN) hours is having a direct affect on safety at Kyogle Memorial Multi Purpose Service (MPS).
The removal of four hours of nursing care per day that was implemented by the Local Health District (LHD) last month has resulted in staff being regularly left without security in the facility.
Instead of maintaining the Assistant in Nursing (AiN) hours, Health & Security Assistants (HSAs), whose previous duties include security, cleaning and gardening, have been moved across to do nursing duties.
To protest the staffing changes and notify the community of the security issues, members of the Kyogle Memorial hospital branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) will gather outside the hospital at 1pm TOMORROW.
Nursing staff are concerned that the removal of nursing hours is affecting the standard of care for aged care residents and putting both patient and staff safety at risk, as HSAs are not appropriately trained or qualified to provide personal care to Aged care residents within Kyogle Memorial MPS.
AiNs have a minimum certificate III qualification, such as the certificate III Health Services Assistance (Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care), or are second year undergraduate nursing students. Their formal training totals around 360 hours, whereas the HSAs received three hours of basic training before they were expected to provide and assist with personal care.
WHEN: from 1pm WEDNESDAY, 12 October 2016
WHAT: Interviews with local nurses/photo opportunities
WHERE: Outside Kyogle Memorial Multi Purpose Service (MPS)
199 Summerland Way, Kyogle
Download this media release: Staffing cuts lead to security issue at Kyogle
