'We have been exploited': Local nurses and midwives vent anger at furious rally in Goulburn after statewide strike

The demonstration, complete with placards and chanting, was held on the back of a second strike in six weeks by the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA).

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Branch members walked off the job for 24 hours from 7am over what the union says is a failure by the NSW Government to address safety concerns, particularly the aforementioned ratios.

Nurses and midwives from Goulburn, Crookwell, Yass and Bowral were all in attendance with many taking the time to share their at times horrific experiences since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bowral branch member Jenny Archer said the pandemic had shone a light on an already broken situation.

"The pandemic has highlighted how important healthcare workers are but also how stretched resources and staff are," she explained.

"We have been exploited yet we still continue to turn up for shifts. Staff are at breaking point.

"What the hell? We work in the healthcare profession but we can't even care for ourselves."

Former nurse Juanita, who told the crowd of her ongoing battle with PTSD from working at Crookwell Hospital, painted a grim picture of what everyday life was like for healthcare workers.

"I didn't last very long at Crookwell hospital," she bravely told the rally.

"I have had no support, heard nothing from NSW Health about safety for us at work.

"At Crookwell Hospital the night I last worked I was in charge of 19 patients. There was no security, there was no administration, there was no mental health [staff].

"I have watched children come to emergency and no help be provided.

"This is not good enough!"

Yass branch delegate Lynn Green said the state government had refused to listen to nurses' concerns and described the 'crisis' at Yass Hospital, something this paper has previously covered.

"We feel guilty for leaving our patients with minimal staffing levels while taking strike action to improve patient care but the government has left us with no other option, they will not listen," she said.

"They are telling everyone in NSW that we are coping, but we are not!

"In the past 10 years Yass has had increased patient numbers through their ED. In 2018 we had an 11 per cent increase in presentations to ED. This year we are on track for 10 per cent.

"Yass is the fourth busiest ED for its size in the state yet we are still staffed at one person for however many patients walk through the door.

"In the past two years 56 per cent of nurses at Yass have left. No wonder we're in crisis."

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