Further claims have emerged from the regional hospital of overworked staff and pressures described as “horrendous”.
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A new source within the hospital described regularly missing food breaks during an eight-hour shift, frequent double-shifts, agency staff refusing to return after working regular eight day weeks, and patients being discharged who shouldn’t be.
“Every shift I think ‘why am I doing this?’,” the source said.
“If I didn’t have kids I would be looking into another career.”
The source said the pressures on staff are transferring to patients, who often get themselves out of bed because they understand nursing staff are overworked.
“It’s ridiculous,” the source said. “You’ve studied and spent money for a career as a carer, and you don’t even get lunch.”
Meanwhile, management has responded to claims of increased pressures on nurses and understaffing at the regional hospital.
A Southern NSW Local Health District spokesperson said, while the Bega Valley Health Service currently maintains optimum staffing levels in accordance with NSW government health guidelines, the regional hospital will be taking on 11 new graduate nurses over coming weeks to “help fill any vacancies and improve staffing levels”.
Despite these seemingly contradictory comments, they said they understand the modern-day pressures of the nursing profession.
“Advances in technology, an increase in the number of patients with multiple chronic diseases and the increasing expectation of the community contributes to these pressures,” they said.
“The health district is working to reduce the load on nurses and release them to devote more time to patient care.”
The spokesperson said the district will be rolling out a new care program over the next two years.
“The Essentials of Care model aims to minimise work made unnecessary by technology, eliminate waste and to stop undertaking tasks that do not add value,” they said.
In response to claims beds are not being made and rooms not cleaned on a daily basis, the spokesperson said the district takes the “claim very seriously”.
“If anyone in the community has proof this statement is correct, please contact health district management immediately,” they said.
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