Not Just Job Saver Pandemic Pay for Nurses Too
With nurses and paramedics across NSW at breaking point and many resigning in recent weeks, it’s unacceptable that the Government is supporting businesses with Job Saver but not providing financial incentives for exhausted frontline healthcare workers, says Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and health spokesperson.
On Monday, the Greens launched ‘NurseKeeper’, a plan for a combination of cash bonuses and pandemic pay to keep nurses and paramedics in the public health system and to encourage those who can re-enter the workforce to do so. On Sunday the Greens wrote to Premier Perrottet and Minister Hazzard asking them to support NurseKeeper.
A petition in support of NurseKeeper has already gained 10,000 signatures in 4 days.
“It’s extraordinary that after news all week of nurses and paramedics at breaking point, of nurses and paramedics resigning, that the Government is meeting today to consider a rescue package - not for nurses!” said Ms Faehrmann.
“It’s extraordinary that nurses walked off the job yesterday at Westmead over the unbearable workloads, yet this government does nothing.
“The Greens support Job Saver of course. But what about protecting the jobs of nurses and paramedics too and ensuring they stay when we need them the most?
“Make no mistake, we’ll see even more resignations in the coming weeks if the Government doesn’t take urgent action . NurseKeeper could help stop the haemorrhaging and bring nurses who have recently resigned or retired back into our hospitals.
“The Treasurer is taking his JobSaver proposal to the expenditure review committee today. It’s a dereliction of his duty as Treasurer at this time that he’s not taking a proposal for pandemic pay and bonuses for nurses as well. Our economy cannot survive without a functioning public health system,” said Cate Faehrmann.
Nursekeeper includes:
- an immediate bonus of $5,000 to all nurses and paramedics working in the public health system in NSW to act as an incentive to stay for those currently considering resigning from the profession
- a ‘pandemic payment’ of at least $60 per shift, in line with the initiative taken by the Victorian Government.
- a further $5,000 in 12 months time as an additional retention measure and gesture of gratitude