Nurses impose bans

By Di Quin

MELBOURNE -- Nurses at Western General have imposed bans on elective admissions and internal transfer of patients due to an increasing strain on midwifery staffing levels.

The closure of the midwifery section at Essendon Hospital means pregnant women must go to Western General to have their babies delivered, swelling the number of deliveries there by 500 or more per year. This will occur without a corresponding increase in staffing levels.

According to an Australian Nursing Federation spokesperson, in order to maintain adequate levels of staff and quality of care, 20 new positions need to be created. The CEO at Western General has offered only seven.

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