"Every patient, every time". That's the vision nurses and midwives in the Hunter New England Health District live and serve by.
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Yet even this basic requirement cannot be upheld due to "dangerous" staff to patient ratios in our hospitals.
In Armidale, protests took place outside the office of state MP Adam Marshall - who has supported their actions - and outside the Centro shopping plaza.
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An Inverell contingent representing the "unanimous support" from their colleagues gathered outside that hospital's new emergency entrance on Thursday for their second state-wide strike in just six weeks.
In other communities like Moree, there were protests at local hospitals, as part of a statewide effort, which included a massive protest in Macquarie Street, Sydney, outside the state's parliament.
Nurses and midwives from right across the state protested the NSW government's failure to act on the staffing crisis in public hospitals.
At the Armidale protest, a letter was read from state MP Adam Marshall, who has backed the nurses in their efforts.
"Never before has our health system, and the people who work within it, faced the extreme challenges it has in the last two years," Mr Marshall's letter said.
"To our lasting gratitude, you have met that challenge and worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe and healthy.
"We owe you all an enormous debt of gratitude and you deserve not just our thanks, but our full support in securing improved conditions at work and the means to train and employ even more nurses and midwives in our local hospitals."
It went on to say that the MP would speak in parliament again this week to highlight some of the issues in our region.
"Our nurses and medical staff are on the frontline. It is time NSW Health stops the bandaid fixes and finds a cure for this medical staff shortage," he wrote.
"I once again call on the NSW government to be bold, be innovative and work with nurses and midwives to find the cure to our regional health crisis, because the consequences of not doing so are frankly unthinkable."
The letter was read by Warren Isaac, secretary of Armidale Community Health & Hospital branch of the NSW Nurses & Midwives' Association, on the steps of Armidale Centro shopping plaza.
The protest had moved there to get the attention of local residents, Mr Isaac told The Armidale Express.
He said the public was very supportive, with lots of drivers honking horns and calling out their appreciation to the striking nurses.
Despite the support of the public and the local MP, it's now up to the government, Mr Isaac said.
"What (our) members need is for the NSW Government to do a massive backflip, which is about a decade overdue, and agree with us that safe nurse-to-patient ratios will actually save money and save lives," Mr Isaac said.
There has been a massive drain of staff leaving the health system, he said.
"They're just completely burnt-out, frustrated and angry. Words can't really describe how bad things are."
'Safety is an issue'
Noeleen Lennon has worked at the Inverell Hospital since 1986, and is the Steward of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association's Inverell Branch.
She "feels very strongly" about her community, her colleagues, and the high standard of care they provide - now impossible.
Their care has been knee-capped with unworkable and "dangerous" ratios, something the union said was introduced in 2019 but has only come into affect on the night shits in Inverell in the past few weeks.
Before the recent changes there were two nurses rostered in emergency, two on the wards and one in maternity. Now there is just one in emergency, one in maternity and two on the wards.
"We are in a situation that we want to ensure that Inverell patients get safe staffing. At the moment, especially on night duty, we feel very strongly that that is not occurring," Ms Lennon explained.
Standing alongside Inverell branch's president Hayley Hamel, vice president Ingrid Goddard and secretary Hannah Cameron, the group said some nights, even security hasn't been available.
"We have had quite a few shifts now that security is not covered. Four (nurses) in the hospital with no security which is worrying," Ms Lennon said.
"We had a situation the other night where we had an ice addict outside, and it took 20 minutes for the police to come. But they don't have the staff to deal with those either."
Call to arms
More than 180 branches voted in favour of statewide strike action in the last fortnight, and over 160 branches participated in a 24-hour strike or work bans, leaving behind staff to provide life-preserving care.
"Despite their pleas for more support from the government, nurses and midwives are extremely fatigued from working double shifts and increased amounts of overtime, because of the growing gaps in staffing rosters," NSWNMA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said.
"We need the NSW government to sit down with us for meaningful talks about our claim for shift by shift nurse-to-patient ratios, improved maternity staffing and a modest pay rise.
"What nurses and midwives are asking for is not unreasonable. We're simply calling on the government to prioritise patient care and commit to a safe staffing model with a guaranteed minimum number of nurses and midwives on every shift."
The NSWNMA has had no offer from the government since meeting with the NSW Premier on February 21.
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