The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) are seeking staffing ratios of at least one midwife to three women, and say the NSW Government’s rostering system needs an urgent overhaul because it allows ongoing, unfilled vacancies and puts women and their babies at risk.
Gathering outside the hospital last Tuesday, the midwives said they were regularly short-staffed after many experienced midwives had left due to the challenging working conditions.
They said the shortage leaves only two midwives caring for up to 12 women and their babies, which means they are unable to provide the level of support or education women and partners need during the vital days following birth.
Enass Akkouch, NSWNMA Auburn Hospital Branch member and midwife, said one of her colleagues was working on the ward by herself, night duty, with seven or eight patients – “that’s just mothers, the babies don’t count”.
“With ratios it gives us the ability to provide more time for each woman and her baby,” she said.
Audrey Figues, secretary of the NSWNMA Auburn Hospital Branch, says ratios is not just a word, “it’s something that needs to be implemented and it needs to be done as soon as possible”.
A Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) spokesperson said several of the hospital’s staff took part in the rally while on their meal break and there was no disruption to the care of patients or staffing levels.
Refuting the association’s claims, he said that successful recruitment campaigns had meant that vacancies at Auburn Hospital had reduced significantly for full time employees.
“Since March 2022, Auburn Hospital has recruited to Maternity Services more than 5.38 full-time equivalent midwives through a combination of targeted and rolling advertisements,” he said.
“In 2023, five new full-time equivalent graduates will join the facility for deployment to Auburn Hospital Maternity Services.
“While full-time equivalent vacancies in the Maternity department are recruited, the positions are fully rostered, covered by casual staff and overtime as required.”