At least seven casual nurses turning up for work last week at Katoomba Hospital were told to go home and that shifts locked in for them on a monthly roster were scrapped.
The news sent shock waves through the hospital's pool of casual staff regulars last Thursday, leading to initial fears the nurses were sacked.
Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS) chief Professor Stephen Boyages and NSW Health Minister John Della Bosca said last Friday that no casual nurses at the hospital were cut, but admitted a breakdown in communication occurred.
One of the nurses affected rang the Gazette last Thursday morning, saying all casual nurses working at the hospital, including seven within the emergency department, were told they had been cut, “as they say they can’t afford (us).
“They just told us when we came for our shifts that all the shifts we were rostered for over the next three weeks were cut. We can’t go to work.
“It’s very distressing as the people affected have children and mortgages to pay — I don’t know what to do.”
The caller said she had been working an average of 15 to 20 hours per week as a casual nurse in the hospital's emergency department.
“I’ve been told it’s a directive from SWAHS.
“The hospital is already short-staffed and relies on casual nurses, so this will compromise patient care.
“People (permanent staff) just can’t do overtime all the time.”
Professor Boyages said on radio station 2GB last Friday the casual nurses were told shifts were not available.
“I don't know the actual numbers and I’m objecting to the words gotten rid of (used by broadcaster Ray Hadley in the interview).
“We value our casual staff and use them to plug in gaps in the roster, but we don’t want to waste taxpayers’ dollars.
“Demand ebbs and flows.
“We are not sacking any casuals — what’s actually happened is we’ve increased the number of permanent staff at the hospital.”
Professor Boyages said the casual nurse who contacted the media is meeting the hospital general manager to discuss the situation and would, along with the other casual staff, be offered permanent part-time work if they sought it.
“I’m sure the communications have broken down (in this case).”
Mr Della Bosca said he didn’t believe anyone has been “put on the scrap heap.
“Of course they (casual nurses) should be treated with respect.
“My understanding is they would be eligible for permanent positions if they so desire.”
When asked if there is enough money allocated by the NSW treasury for the health system, Mr Della Bosca said a mini-budget is coming up and there is always more money needed, “but we do have enough funds to run a first class public hospital system”.
A SWAHS spokesperson said Katoomba Hospital will continue to use experienced casual nurses as required.
The unsavoury situation came just nine days after a leaked hospital internal memo revealed the maternity unit was forced to close for 36 hours due to lack of anaesthetic cover, despite assurances that it would never be closed again.
NSW shadow health minister Jillian Skinner said when it comes to Blue Mountains families and their hospital, “NSW Labor says it can’t afford to employ casual nurses.
“But Premier Nathan Rees is committing taxpayer funds to a V8 Supercar race, an AFL team for western Sydney and the search for a mysterious black panther.”
Former Liberal Candidate Michael Paag said given increased road works and resulting traffic on the Great Western Highway, it is vital that Katoomba Hospital remains “fully operational and properly resourced with the right mix of professional staff”.
Blue Mountains Hospital Equity and Access Lobby (HEAL) spokesperson, Clr Janet Mays, said SWAHS must come clean with the community as “there is sadly a measure of mistrust.
“HEAL’s concern is that every couple of months there is another hiccup in the delivery of basic primary services at Katoomba Hospital and we are asking why.”
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