|
 24 August 2008
Port Macquarie Hospital nurses are tired of delays to ED renovations
Nurses to hold protest rally tomorrow afternoon
NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA) members at Port Macquarie Base Hospital will hold a public protest rally tomorrow afternoon (25 August) over delays to promised renovations and extensions of the hospital’s increasingly-busy emergency department.
Port Macquarie nurses protest details
Date: Monday, 25 August 2008
Time: 3.00pm – 5.00pm
Venue
Corner of Wrights Rd, Port Macquarie
NSWNA general secretary, Brett Holmes, said the nurses are extremely frustrated that the promised renovations and extensions to the emergency department are being delayed.
“They also have little confidence the work will commence in a timely fashion unless public pressure is applied to tardy decision makers within the North Coast Area Health Service or NSW Health head office. That is the purpose of tomorrow’s rally – to let the wider community know that the North Coast AHS and NSW Health are dragging the chain on this important work, which is integral to improving clinical safety for both staff and patients,” Mr Holmes said.
“In the winter of 2006 it was first proposed that the Port Macquarie emergency department triage area and work station be renovated. Staff consultation took place and architects engaged. However, the plans were dropped and clinical staff had to endure another winter in cramped and unsafe working conditions.
“Earlier this year planning started again on renovations and extensions to the emergency department, but again nothing has happened. This time overworked nurses have had enough of the stalling and they will make it a public issue.
“At current presentation levels the emergency department is far too small, poorly designed to cope with the diversity of patients turning up and generally unsafe for staff and patients alike. To make matters worse the department does not have a dedicated area for handling acute mentally ill patients or a special area for sick or injured children.
“It was originally built to cope with 12,000 to 14,000 patients per year. In 2007-08 more than 31,000 patients presented at the Port Macquarie emergency department, which is more than double the number it is built to deal with. This number does not include those patients seen in the Express Care Clinic, which sees patients in lower triage categories.
“It is time the North Coast AHS stopped all the pen pushing and paper shuffling and got some carpenters, electricians, plumbers and painters on the job.
“That is what the nurses want and they are confident the community will support their push for action on this issue,” Mr Holmes said.
Tomorrow’s rally will be attended by off-duty nurses and will not impact on patient care at the hospital.
 15 August 2008
Queensland Health restructure - nurses welcome emphasis on accountability and transparency
Queensland Health is too important for anything less
The strong emphasis on greater accountability for Queensland Health district managers and increased transparency within the department is exactly what staff and patients are entitled to from a department that is so important to every Queenslander, the Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) said today.
The QNU was commenting on the latest restructure of Queensland Health, announced today (15 August) by Health Minister, Stephen Robertson, and Director-General, Mick Reid. Mr Reid also personally briefed QNU officials on the restructure this morning.
QNU secretary, Gay Hawksworth, said the QNU is always calling for greater accountability and transparency in this vital department.
“Queensland Health is too important to us all. That is why we need and are entitled to the highest levels of accountability and transparency. This is not about scapegoating people or witch hunts. In fact, the QNU is a strong supporter of a no-blame system of transparency.
“It is about ensuring the enormous trust we all place in Queensland Health, when we or the people we love are sick or injured, is not misplaced. It is also about ensuring that the dedicated people who work for the department are properly valued and supported by management,” Ms Hawksworth said.
“Queensland nurses will welcome this increased emphasis on accountability and transparency. However, they will be hoping the words in today’s announcement are translated into action.
“The safety and security problems, which went unaddressed for years, at various Torres Strait health centres are an unfortunate example of what can happen when strong accountability systems are not in place or enforced.
“The QNU is looking forward to working with Queensland Health to develop the protocols and practices, which will ensure the objectives outlined in today’s announcement are actually achieved,” Ms Hawksworth said.
 15 August 2008
ANF responds to Workplace Ombudsman decision on Filipino nursing assistants employed under 457 visa scheme
ANF federal secretary Ged (Gerardine) Kearney and ANF assistant federal secretary Lee Thomas are available for comment on the Workplace Ombudsman’s decision to fine Sydney-based labour hire agency, Healthcare Recruiting Australia Pty Ltd, for underpaying three nursing assistants more than $15,000.
The company involved and its director Michelle Lloyd have already been fined a total of $48,000 in the Federal Magistrate’s Court for four breaches of the Workplace Relations Act.
Ms Kearney said the continued exploitation and abuse of 457 visa holders, many of whom are bought to the country to work in the nursing profession, highlights the need for a major overhaul of the scheme. “Governments and employers have a duty of care for these workers. The abuse and exploitation of people coming into this country to help relieve labour shortages must cease. It is clear there is an urgent need for stronger regulation and monitoring of the conditions the 457 visa holders are being employed under.”
5 August 2008
NSWNA’s 63rd annual conference
Setting the pace: Shaping the future
The New South Wales Nurses Association’s (NSWNA) 63rd annual conference, is being held this week – 6, 7 & 8 August - at the AJC Function Centre, Randwick (Randwick Racecourse).
The NSWNA, in conjunction with the Australian Nursing Federation, is the largest health union in Australia and has members working in every hospital, health facility and nursing home in NSW. Nearly 420 delegates, representing more than 51,000 nurses throughout New South Wales, will discuss a range of political, industrial relations and health policy issues. The theme is – Setting the pace: Shaping the future.
The delegate numbers by sector or geographical region are:
Aged care 43
Private hospitals 24
Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care 11
Mental Health-Justice Health 39
North Sydney Central Coast AHS 35
Sydney West AHS 27
Sydney South West AHS 33
South Eastern Sydney Illawarra AHS 50
Greater Southern AHS 27
North Coast AHS 44
Hunter New England AHS 49
Greater Western AHS 32
Representatives of media outlets are welcome to attend the following sessions:
Thursday, 7 August
9.00am Hon. Reba Meagher MLA
NSW Minister for Health
11.00am Adjunct Professor Debra Thoms
Chief Nursing Officer NSW, NSW Health
Friday, 8 August – Professional Day
9.00am - 10.30am Motivating and Managing Different Generations at Work
Avril Henry
Managing Director, Avril Henry Pty Ltd
11.00am – 12.30pm Understanding Generation Y
Peter Sheahan
Managing Director, Peter Sheahan Pty Ltd
Thoughts on Inspirational Leadership
Elizabeth Dabars
Branch Secretary, ANF South Australian Branch
2.00pm – 4.30pm Government, Bargaining and the SUN Advantage
Rosalee Longmore
President, Saskatchewan Union of Nurses
Panel discussion
Facilitated by Peter Sheahan
· Avril Henry
· Rosalee Longmore
· Jane Rawson
· Anne Mollari
· Elizabeth Dabars
· Mike Beeley
During the conference media outlets will be advised of any substantial developments or resolutions. | 
