KEMH Midwives and Nurses rally highlighting escalating crisis In August, more than 300 Nurses and Midwives rallied at the State’s premier women’s and babies hospital, King Edward Memorial, to publicly demonstrate their dissatisfaction over worsening working conditions.
What did Midwives and Nurses highlight at the rally?
Their action followed the May rally at Perth Children’s Hospital that heralded meaningful and ongoing action by health workers to protect patient safety and improve frontline conditions at WA hospitals.
• The things the government can be doing to recruit more staff right now at KEMH, including -
It came as private hospitals moved to drastic measures to address urgent staffing issues, including payments of $6,000, to recruit nurses. ANF State Secretary, Mark Olson, said the further impact of such measures on the crumbling WA public health system would be nothing short of critical.
• Dangerous staff shortages, record overtime and double shifts (AINs are not the answer) • Burn out and poor staff morale
− Short term contracts to be converted to permanent contracts − Better access to leave
− Midwife to Patient/Mother Ratios (that includes counting the babies) − Nurse to Patient Ratios
− Staff Development retention and expansion
− Flexibility in rostering to retain existing staff and attract others back − Car park issues – the return of better lighting and improved access for staff We are continuing to fight for improved conditions at KEMH.
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western nurse October 2021
