Two years after retiring, nurse Judith Warland is planning a return to work to assist Western Australia's strained health system as the state prepares for an increase of COVID patients ahead of the February 5 border reopening.
The return to work of retired nurses such as Mrs Warland is part of a state government strategy to ease the burden on an ailing health system.
Mrs Warland retired from the WA Country Health Service in 2019 and currently works at a pharmacy in Kojonup, about 90 minutes north of Albany.
Recently, the nurses union called on the WA government to delay the border reopening after its members expressed concerns about how the hospital system would cope with an influx of COVID cases.
Mrs Warland said getting back to work would help.
She said two of her friends, both former midwives, had been redeployed to perform other duties.
"They've actually been flown all over WA to do COVID clinics," Mrs Warland said.
"I think it's probably important that they should be doing what they're trained [to do]."
Mrs Warland, who is trained to administer vaccinations, said she anticipated she would be asked to free-up existing staff.
"You get to talk to people [when giving vaccinations]," she said.
"I've been known to be a good talker, so I can talk fairly easily to strangers."
Call for help
Late last year then-health minister Roger Cook announced the government would fund refresher courses for retired nurses and midwives.
"We will be helping them get back into the workforce," Mr Cook said.
In September, Mr Cook acknowledged the pressure on the health system.
"Ambulances are busier than ever, the RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) are busier than ever, our ED's are busier than ever.
"We just have to continue to make sure that we continue with our hospital expansion project."
Mrs Warland said the profession has suffered from staff burn out.
"Nursing is physically hard and mentally taxing.
"You get a certain rate of people leaving the workforce and if they're not being replaced, the others that do remain are even more stressed and the system begins to break down.
"I do wonder if that's what we're seeing across the board."
Vaccination still priority
Mrs Warland said disease prevention remains an essential part of reducing the pressure on the health system.
"If we want to keep people healthy and out of our somewhat under-the-pump health system, I believe vaccines are probably one of the ways to do that."
Apart from the work, she also said the prospect of travelling around the state was exciting.
"It's a chance to see more of WA."
