After closing a further two beds from the original five they closed at the start of June, the Local Health District is yet to come to the table and discuss a resolution with Yass Hospital workers.
“We sent through a second resolution with a time frame the LHD to respond to us. Unfortunately we’ve actually had no formal contact from the Local Health District other than calls demanding that we open beds which we are not prepared to do at this point,” said the President of the Yass Branch of the Nurses and Midwives Association, Paul Haines.
Paul Haines
The branch refused to reopen the beds and met today to discuss the next course of action, promising more beds would be closed if the LHD continued to ignore them.
“We met as a branch today and we came up with a third resolution which we sent to the LHD. The resolution explained how disappointed we are that they haven’t even acknowledged our resolution or communicated with us whatsoever.”
“What we’ve requested for thus far is a 24-hour security guard and an extra nurse on the afternoon shift because we feel like the current situation is untenable. Unsafe for the community and unsafe for the nurses at the hospital.”
“Moving forward, we will continue with the bed closures until the LHD sees fit to come and talk to us,” said Paul.
Paul is now calling on the community to show their support. He says the current strike is as much for the community’s safety and welfare for nurses and other hospital workers.
“We’re hoping that the community will get on board and contact local MP’s with regards to the situation because ultimately it’s the community’s safety and welfare that we’re concerned about.”
“The members are obviously very disappointed that our employers are unwilling to come to the table and actually start some dialogue to resolve this,” he said.
With only five beds remaining at the Yass Hospital, the promise of further bed closures should the LHD not come to the table is undoubtedly concerning.
Max O’Driscoll
