Mark Speakman
Leader of the Opposition
Kellie Sloane
Shadow Minister for Health
Gurmesh Singh
Shadow Minister for Regional Health
The Minns Labor Government's ongoing failures has led to the cancellation of at least 700 surgeries across the state today, as nurses and midwives stage a 24-hour strike. Only life-preserving care will remain unaffected, impacting thousands of patients awaiting important treatments.
The people of New South Wales are left asking what deals did Premier Chris Minns make to get elected, and why are our nurses and midwives still waiting for an outcome?
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the Minns Labor Government rode to power with union backing, yet today we see the trust of those workers being dismissed.
"Chris Minns is now telling nurses and midwives they have to choose between improved staff ratios and higher wages – but he hoodwinked nurses to campaign for him before the election promising they'd get both," Mr. Speakman said.
The government's reluctance to negotiate with the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association has meant patients and communities suffer as a result, with surgeries postponed and emergency department waiting times set to increase.
Shadow Minister for Health Kellie Sloane said for nurses and midwives who keep our health system running, the Minns Labor Government's response is a major letdown.
"The disruption to scheduled surgeries today could have been avoided if the government had shown real commitment to its nurses. Patients deserve better," Ms. Sloane said.
The Nurses and Midwives Association told media this morning the Premier is misleading the public by claiming its demands could not be met due to the Government already funding safe staffing levels.
Shadow Minister for Regional Health Gurmesh Singh said the election commitment is yet to be ticked off, particularly across regional hospitals.
"Health services in regional areas are stretched extremely thin and staff ratios certainly haven't been implemented at any of our hospitals," Mr. Singh said.
"The Premier clearly hasn't been upfront about his 'one or the other' approach, because I don't think nurses would have agreed to vote for him if they thought staff ratios would ultimately come at the cost of their salaries."
