That was Nurses and Midwives Association Deniliquin branch secretary Rhonda Dixon’s reaction to the NSW Government announcing 5000 nurses and midwives to be recruited state wide.
In the Murrumbidgee Local Health District the government is promising 273 new staff, including 16 doctors, 197 nurses and midwives, 25 allied health staff and 35 hospital support workers.
Earlier this month about 50 Deniliquin nurses and supporters rallied for better nursing ratios for local hospitals.
Ms Dixon said she was happy to hear the government announce more nurses for hospitals, however said it will not stop the nurses’ association calling for better nursing ratios.
‘‘We want it written into our award that we have mandatory ratios.
‘‘The (announcement of) extra nurses is good but doesn’t put a limit on the number of patients we can look after.
‘‘They haven’t announced when it will be delivered or how they will deliver it.
‘‘Nurses want to be guaranteed a safe environment and that includes not having to look after 10 patients at once.’’
Ms Dixon said all NSW hospitals need a ratio of one nurse to four patients for wards and one to three for emergency departments per shift.
She said NSW should adopt the ratios set up by Victorian and Queensland governments.
‘‘The Victorian Labor Government has recently announced nurse to patient ratios, but we haven’t heard anything from the NSW Labor Party. In Victoria they’re improving their ratios.
‘‘Bringing in extra nurses will not necessarily improve ratios because it’s based on where they employ the nurses.
‘‘It doesn’t give any guarantee on the number they would have to look after,’’ Mrs Dixon said.
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