Nurses and midwives in far west New South Wales have joined a statewide strike, calling for better conditions, pay and staffing ratios in hospitals.
The 24-hour action is in response to what the union says is a lack of action by the state government following a similar strike last month.
About 40 staff — one third of the nursing workforce — from the Broken Hill Hospital took part in the strike today.
Nurses and Midwives Association Broken Hill branch secretary Breanna Braga said it was an escalation of previous activities.
"We didn't get listened to," she said.
Ms Braga said nurses did not want to strike, but it was the best way of illustrating the seriousness of the situation.
"We're disappointed to be honest, because nurses don't take striking lightly," she said.
"There are clear reasons why we've done this … we're understaffed, we're overworked, we're exhausted."
The union is calling for the state government to institute nurse-to-patient ratios that would see one nurse to three patients in the emergency department, and one nurse to four patients in general wards.
Ms Braga said current ratios fell well short of that goal.
"We're not getting that at all," she said.
"That's the same with general wards, medical and surgical, they could be looking after up to eight to 10 patients by themselves."
High staff turnover
Broken Hill nurse Paul Kaye, who has more than 30 years' experience in the profession, said too many hospital workers were leaving due to tough conditions.
"Because of reduced nursing … we're running on empty," Mr Kaye said.
"In the last few years we've seen a lot bigger turnover of nurses.
One long-term solution floated by Mr Kaye was greater investment at a tertiary level, and more training for staff.
"Let's see some support strategies to get more nurses in the rural and remote sector."
Some surgeries cancelled
Head of the Far West Local Health District Umit Agis said he understood why nurses were going on strike.
"We certainly support their democratic right to exercise their industrial rights," he said.
Mr Agis said the only significant disruption was the cancellation of orthopaedic surgery today.
