Planned surgeries postponed, and longer waits in the emergency rooms are among the impacts of tomorrow's nurses and midwives 12-hour strike, NSW Health says. Login or signup to continue reading In an ongoing effort to get a one-year 15 per cent pay rise, nurses and midwives across the Hunter planned to stop work on Tuesday September 10. Thousands of NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) members statewide were expected to strike from 7am to 7.
30pm. The union said minimal, life-preserving staffing would be maintained in public hospitals and health services. NSW Health said the action would "very likely affect people seeking care".
"There is no doubt this strike action will impact on our public health system, from longer waits in emergency rooms to cancelled non-emergency surgeries," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said. Mr Park said the Industrial Relations Commission said the union should cease industrial action, including the strike tomorrow. He said hearings at the commission were ongoing on Monday to "avoid impacts to patients and community safety".
All local health districts had plans in place to limit disruptions with the most seriously unwell patients treated first, he said. "We assure the community they should not hesitate to go to their local hospital for emergency care." The strike comes after work bans last week where members refused to clean beds and bins or take calls on wards at John Hunter and Maitland Hospital.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said.