Nurses at Westmead Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Sydney staged a strike today to draw attention to critical issues surrounding patient safety and insufficient staffing. The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) has urged the Health Minister to take action against what they describe as “overcrowding” within the unit. They reported instances of sick babies requiring dedicated nursing care being ‘double’ or ‘triple-parked’ due to a staffing shortfall.
Westmead’s NICU is intended for 44 patients, yet the unit frequently accommodates 50 due to high demand for its critical care services. The NSWMNA highlighted alarming conditions where some infants were placed in makeshift areas such as former storerooms and corridors, reflecting an inadequate ability to care for the most vulnerable patients. This situation has raised serious safety concerns for those dependent on specialised care at one of Sydney’s largest hospitals.
The nurses are advocating for the Health Minister, Ryan Park, to visit the NICU personally to witness the overcrowding and support their request for increased staffing levels, from the current 21 nurses to between 24 and 26 per shift. The NICU at Westmead and the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick are the only two level 6 referral units in metropolitan Sydney equipped to provide highly specialised care for mothers and newborns facing complex medical challenges.
In response to the situation, NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed empathy for the nurses’ concerns, acknowledging the demanding nature of their work in paediatrics, particularly in Western Sydney. He commended the invaluable contributions of nurses, emphasising their role in saving lives daily and committing to addressing their concerns regarding patient care. Furthermore, Minns noted improvements in staff retention since the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that over 90% of health professionals have remained in their roles. He believes stabilising staffing levels is crucial for ensuring patient safety in NSW hospitals.