Wagga nurses are hoping other parties will follow NSW Labor in promising to improve nurse to patient ratios.
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If it wins the March election, Labor has promised to bring the NSW ratios in line with Victoria and Queensland, with the employment of 5500 new nurses.
The improved ratios would affect emergency, maternity, medical and surgical and paediatric wards.
“Whether you have a kid visiting the emergency room or you are expecting a baby, everyone deserves to have the improved standards of care that come from mandating nurse to patient ratios," Country Labor's candidate for Wagga Dan Hayes said.
Labor said has said it will help cover the cost of guaranteed nurse to patient ratios with duties on luxury yachts valued at $200,000 and luxury vehicles worth more than $100,000.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard had earlier committed a returned Coalition government to employing 5000 extra nurses and midwives.
Amit Gupta, from the Wagga Base branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, said staff at the hospital were providing a level of care that equaled that of city hospitals, so nurse-patient ratios should the same.
"Surgeries require the same level of care. We just can't negotiate with that," Mr Gupta said.
"Nurses are burning out. We need better ratios. We should be treated equally to city hospitals."
Member for Wagga Joe McGirr welcomed the government's promise of additional nurses, but more so the Labor announcement.
"I think that its quite a significant announcement," Dr McGirr said.
"The announcement by the government of additional nurses was welcome, but it wasn't linked to ratios.
"This Labor announcement is linked to the ratios. That is a very significant announcement in NSW.
"I think the improvements in care that will result in decreased in incidents and improved morale for nursing staff, which will reduce turnover, will also be a benefit for both the patients and the staff, and also financially."
