Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner, Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Melinda Pavey and Shadow Minister for Ageing and Disabilities and Member for Bega, Andrew Constance got a greater insight into the nurses concerns at the meeting. Mrs Skinner vowed to take up the fight on behalf of the nurses.

Last Friday Cooma-Monaro Shire Council’s mayor Vin Good, general manager John Vucic and Councillor Stephanie McDonald met with GSAHS acting general manager eastern sector Robyn Harvey and director of population health Maggie Jamieson to discuss job fears.

GSAHS assured council there would be no changes to community health and clarified that the budget for general nursing staff at the hospital for 2007/2008 was 43.8 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) roles.

In 2008/2009 Cooma Hospital believed their numbers were 47.4 FTEs.

Cr Good said that GSAHS indicated occupancy rates for the past three years have been about 65 per cent and that the roster should work on about 42.69 FTEs.

“Council’s not in a position to support those numbers one way or the other because we don’t know enough about staffing and occupancy,” Cr Good said.

“But what GSAHS and council both agree is that safe staffing levels are paramount,” he said.

Cr Good also said because the Cooma Hospital serviced the whole region council wanted to ensure there would be sufficient resources to staff the hospital at the appropriate level both in terms of people passing through and service delivery.

GSAHS met again with the NSW nurses’ association late yesterday afternoon to continue staffing discussions.