NSW: Nurses at Canterbury Hospital threaten to continue action

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2000
NSW: Nurses at Canterbury Hospital threaten to continue action

SYDNEY, Dec 5 AAP - Nurses at Sydney's Canterbury Hospital will continue their industrial
action unless management addresses problems of staff shortages.

Nurses today are working to rule between 8am and 5pm.

They have refused to clean beds and perform general cleaning duties and have placed
bans on data entry jobs and the moving of beds.

For nearly a year the nurses have complained about high levels of understaffing and
heavy workloads.

There are 27 vacant nursing positions at the 130-bed hospital.

Other support jobs, such as porters and cleaners, have also gone unfilled, leaving
nurses to perform non-clinical duties as well.

A spokesman for the nurses said hospital management had as yet to contact nurses over
the dispute, but he expected them to begin talks shortly.

The nurses will meet tomorrow afternoon to discuss further action, which may include
more work-to-rule bans or more drastic action such as bed closures.

AAP jas/maur/mjm/br

KEYWORD: NURSES NSW

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