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Trangie nurses march for change
By SHARON BONTHUYS LIKE many Narromine Shire locals, Vicki Kearines is awaiting the outcome of the parliamentary inquiry into rural, regional and remote health and hospital services in NSW. The inquiry received 720 submissions from individuals, health and social service agencies, local authorities, community organisations and service providers. Mrs Kearines’s harrowing submission brought to light the appalling experience her terminally ill father, Ronald Short, 92, went through in his fi nal days at Narromine Hospital treated by “telehealth” doctors. The virtual doctor only ever appeared on a telehealth screen, never in person. The doctor could not see how sick Mr Short was, did not access medical records, declined to provide timely access to a syringe driver to administer pain relief, and treated the family with disrespect. “Please review this system – it is failing the most precious of our communities, our elderly,” Mrs Kearines’s submission begged the inquiry. With the inquiry report due to be handed down at the end of April, Mrs Kearines has high hopes for change but little confidence that this will occur. Continued page 5
Staff participating in the industrial action at Trangie on March 31. PHOTO: NARROMINE STAR
By SHARON BONTHUYS “WHAT do we want? Ratios! When do we want ‘em? Now!” This was one of several war cries as Trangie nurses and supporters marched through the town in support of statewide industrial action on March 31. Leaving the Trangie Multipurpose Health Service (MPHS) just before 10am, staff marched along Harris and Dandaloo Streets, ending at Cafe 2823. They spoke to communi-
ty members and stopped at businesses to raise awareness and to gain support for a petition seeking improved nurseto-patient ratios in NSW hospitals. The marchers were greeted by honking horns from passing vehicles and voices of support from community members and business owners in shops and on the street. Members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) walked off the job across the state at facilities small and large for 24 hours to
draw attention to a health system they say is in crisis. NSWNMA members rallied in Albury, Armidale, Batemans Bay, Bathurst, Blayney, Broken Hill, Coffs Harbour, Cooma, Cowra, Dubbo, Goulburn, Griffith, Inverell, Manning (Taree), Narrabri, Newcastle, Orange, Port Macquarie, Sydney, Tamworth, Tomaree, Trangie, Tweed Heads, Wagga Wagga, Warren, Wollongong, and Yass, a spokesperson said. It was the second time in six weeks that nurses and mid-
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wives had participated in industrial action. It was prompted by the NSW government’s failure to engage with the union since it last met with the Premier on February 21, the spokesperson said. On February 15, Trangie nurses walked off the job for two hours. On March 31, they joined their colleagues statewide and launched industrial action for a 24-hour period. NSWNMA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said the pressures staff were under Coninued page 2