28 May 2008
New England nurses in uproar over new roster system
Record response to survey indicates high level of concern
Meeting in Tamworth tomorrow night
New England public hospital nurses and midwives are in uproar over a proposed new roster system, which they say is inflexible and will undermine their work-life balance.
The Hunter New England Area Health Service (HNEAHS) is proposing to introduce the system across the Greater Newcastle Acute ospital
Hospital Network – the John Hunter, John Hunter Children’s, Royal Newcastle Centre, Belmont and Maitland hospitals – and Mental Health Services. After that it is proposed to roll it out across the AHS, including across New England hospitals and community health services.
21 May 2008
Angry nurses give State Government until 2 June to make a suitable pay and conditions offer
Angry NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA) delegates last night (20 May) gave the State Government until 12.00noon on 2 June 2008 to make a suitable pay and conditions offer. They also authorised the NSWNA Council to decide on further campaign activities if the State Government does not meet that deadline.
The decision was taken at the NSWNA’s quarterly Committee of Delegates meeting in Sydney, which was attended by a massive 237 delegates from hospitals, community health services and aged care facilities around the State (see list attached).
The delegates also signed a letter to the Premier, Morris Iemma, outlining their anger at NSW Health’s failure to make an offer after more than three months of negotiations and with only about six weeks of the current wages agreement to run.
NSWNA general secretary, Brett Holmes, said the delegates unanimously expressed their “utter despair” at the failure of the NSW Government to provide an offer to nurses and midwives, which will secure fair pay and conditions from 1 July 2008.
“The failure of the State Government to commence negotiations, with only 28 working days left before the expiry of our current Award on 30 June, is unprecedented and the delegates believe it shows complete contempt for the 42,000 nurses and midwives working in the public health service. The NSWNA gave its log of claims to the Health Department on February 15 and after more than three months there is still no response to that log from the department or State Government.
“The NSWNA wrote to the Department on 18 April and 6 May requesting a commitment to an operative date of 1 July 2008 for pay increases, should a new agreement not be finalised by the end of June. The delegates are also furious NSW Health has not even bothered to reply to that correspondence.
“Despite the ongoing nurse shortage, the ever-increasing pressure on the public health system and evidence given to the Garling Inquiry, the State Government is placing NSW residents at risk by effectively encouraging nurses and midwives to leave the system and worsen their already excessive workloads,” Mr Holmes said.
In February this year, as part of its Fair conditions. Fair pay. Nurses stay: It’s that simple campaign, the NSWNA provided NSW Health with a log of claims for a new wages and conditions agreement to replace the current agreement, which expires in June.
21 May 2008
Hunter nurses in uproar over new roster system
Record response to survey indicates high level of concern
Meeting in Newcastle tomorrow night
Hunter public hospital nurses and midwives are in uproar over a proposed new roster system, which they say is inflexible and will undermines their work-life balance.
The Hunter New England Area Health Service (HNEAHS) is proposing to introduce the system across the Greater Newcastle Acute Hospital Network – the John Hunter, John Hunter Children’s, Royal Newcastle Centre, Belmont and Maitland hospitals – and Mental Health Services.
“A lot more thought needs to go into this before any decision is made. Hospital and mental health services in the Hunter region depend on getting nurse rostering right and meeting the legitimate needs of the nurses and midwives involved,” Mr Holmes said.
18 May 2008
Illawarra mental health workers wear black to support
Dr Pakula
Angry mental health workers in the Illawarra, including nurses, doctors, wardspeople and allied health staff, are this week wearing black as an act of solidarity with Associate Professor Irwin Pakula, who recently resigned from his position as Chief Psychiatrist at the South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service’s (SESIAHS) mental health service
Associate Professor Pakula was at the service for 30 years and resigned in protest at poor resourcing of the service.
NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA) assistant secretary, Judith Kiejda, said mental health employees in the Illawarra are shocked over the circumstances leading to his resignation, effectively terminating thirty years of dedicated service in the public health sector.
“They believe his resignation leaves a significant deficit in psychiatric services for the mentally ill in the Illawarra. Morale has been deflated since his departure and the recent departure of four other psychiatrists from the service.
“Illawarra mental health nurses share his view that mental health service resources do not meet the demands on public mental health services in the Illawarra.
“The cost of this deteriorating situation is borne by local patients, their carers and families, public mental health service staff and their families, allied services such as Emergency Departments, local police and ambulance services and, finally, also by the broader community.
“Mental health workers have pledged their support for Dr Pakula by voting to swap their uniforms for black plain clothes for one week.
“Illawarra mental health nurses have also called on SESIAHS mental health service management to enter into constructive consultation with the unions representing mental health workers. These talks should address the inadequacies of the mental health service, so it can provide quality and appropriate care for the mentally ill in this area,” Ms Kiejda said.
 13 May 2008
$407.6 Million Pot of Gold for the Aged Care Industry
The Federal Government today announced a $407.6 million boost for the aged care industry, bringing the total additional payments to $2 billion over four years.
The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) says this money must be used to close the wages gap in aged care.
“Aged care nurses and carers are the worst paid in the health care industry, if we are to have any hope of attracting and retaining dedicated and qualified staff to care for the most vulnerable Australians the government must ensure this money is directed towards improving their wages;” said Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary.
Nurses and carers working in aged care currently earn $20,000 pa less than their colleagues in other sectors, making it impossible for aged care providers to attract staff from an already tight labour market.
The ANF says that without adequate numbers of qualified nurses and carers working in the aged care sector, older Australians will not receive the quality of care that they deserve.
“It is essential for the well being of senior Australians, who often have complex health care needs, to have access to excellent care should they need it.” | 
