KEMH Rally

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. 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. 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. What did Midwives and Nurses highlight at the rally? • Dangerous staff shortages, record overtime and double shifts (AINs are not the answer) • Burn out and poor staff morale • The things the government can be doing to recruit more staff right now at KEMH, including − 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.

Our Voices

Brave Midwives and Nurses stood up at the rally and spoke to the Western Australian media about their concerns. Here’s a snapshot of what they said:

“There is no way that it is safe for patients, or safe for staff.”

“We’re getting to a point where we are burnt out and we are sick and tired of it.” “If we finish our shifts late and ask for overtime, we are told it’s because of our own poor time management. It’s actually because we are completely overwhelmed and unsupported.”

“The stress is awful.”

“We’re here today because we need to address the staffing issues that are happening here. Women aren’t getting the care they deserve. Women are not being respected anymore by the health system because we’re not staffed adequately.”

“I work with some wonderful, wonderful people that just want to help mums and help babies and get good outcomes, and we’re not being supported in getting that, we’re short-staffed., we’re doing double shifts.” “These are midwives doing a really important job, it’s a scary job anyway, but it’s a scary job if you don’t have enough staff around you. You need your colleagues to work as a team, and if they’re not there, it doesn’t work.”

“My graduation’s already been delayed just because of the cuts in nursing shifts, there’s not enough nurses to supervise us on the wards, so I might graduate in two years, it may be three years.” “Let-down.” “Forgotten.” “Exhausted.” “Panicked.” The ANF Parking Bees are buzzing back!

Staff also protested at the lack of parking at KEMH, which leaves them no option but to park in suburban streets – and leave the hospital every few hours to move their cars.

“When you’re busy and understaffed on the wards, it just feels like such a huge waste of time.” “Just trying to park and come in and deliver a baby is outrageous I mean, we have to park the car, there’s no other way around it.” “I’ve had a couple of parking fines this year already - $100 each – because the parking situation here isn’t good enough.”

The Signs

Midwives and Nurses at the rally waved placards with their messages. Here’s a snapshot of their signs:

Fix KEMH More midwives now Babies count More nurses now Double shifts = Dangerous Push harder Minister Code Yellow is no joke We deliver, Labor won’t Midwives - hear our cry! More for Midwives Double shifts are deadly Over-worked, Overwhelmed, Over it Midwives – hear us cry Flexible hours for midwives and mums Mr Cook, KEMH is crook We deliver, management doesn’t We deliver, Minister doesn’t