4 hours Ago By Anna Falkenmire
NURSES and midwives at two of Newcastle's private hospitals say they walked off the job for the first time on Thursday because they feel worn down, taken for granted and ignored. Login or signup to continue reading Dozens of union members from Newcastle Private Hospital in New Lambton Heights and Hunter Valley Private Hospital in Shortland went on strike for two hours to demand better pay and conditions. NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) branch secretary for Newcastle Private Hospital, Lesley Reber-Pickering, said it was a "very taxing" place to work.
"We're understaffed, we're pushed to the very end, a lot of us go home in tears and are considering dropping out and going to do something else," she said. Members are demanding a 15 per cent one-year wage increase, the doubling of night shift penalties to 30 per cent, improved leave entitlements and mandated patient ratios. "We want better conditions for our patients and their families as well, and for us, so that we don't physically and mentally break down," Ms Reber-Pickering said.
Both hospitals are run by Healthscope and it's understood negotiations have been ongoing since May, but industrial action has now escalated. Ms Reber-Pickering said Healthscope had made a "measly" offer of a 13.55 per cent payrise over three years.
"You want to be looked after, Healthscope, when you come to our hospitals? We're it. We're the ones that are going to look after you. We're the frontline workers.
Pay us what we want," she said. Nurses and midwives have vowed to continue striking if things don't change and will consider further action such as banning overtime and non-clinical duties and refusing to change rosters. Hunter Valley Private Hospital registered nurse Dave Mitchell said he went to the strike on Thursday to demonstrate distress at the pay and conditions they're expected to tolerate.
"We work and we care and we give and we stay," he said. "You wear yourself down, so you can be taken for granted, ignored, be told that 13 per cent over three years is enough. "Fatigue is an ongoing problem and that doesn't seem to get recognised either.
" He said staff at Hunter Valley were expected to stay until midnight or even 2am when needed, because there was no night shift, then turn up again in the morning and say "Yeah, I'm good". He said the turnout on November 21 and the toots of support from passing vehicles gave him hope. Those on strike were chanting "Who saves lives? Nurses and midwives".
"A a nurse, you like to believe you're doing good things and patients appreciate you, but the public display here and our other union colleagues turning up, I'm just chuffed," he said. It's understood work stoppages on Thursday were expected to disrupt planned operating theatre schedules. A Healthscope spokesperson said the organisation was "disappointed" that NSWNMA members were taking industrial action.
"Our number one priority is to provide our patients with the best possible care, and we have plans in place to ensure business as usual at our hospitals while protected industrial action is taking place," the spokesperson said. "We've made what we consider to be a market leading wage offer in NSW with improved conditions and have negotiated with the NSWNMA in good faith. "We have listened carefully to staff and consulted with them throughout the EBA process to date, and we will continue to do so as we seek an agreement that's fair and sustainable for our people and our hospitals.
" Healthscope has offered a payrise of 13.55 per cent compounded across three years, which would see a 10 per cent increase by July next year. Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
Email: [email protected] Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
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