CONTENTS
lamp THE
CONTACTS NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association For all membership enquiries and assistance, including Lamp subscriptions and change of address, contact our Sydney office.
VOLUME 70 No.2 MARCH 2013
Sydney Office 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 (all correspondence) T 8595 1234 (metro) 1300 367 962 (non-metro) F 9662 1414 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au W www.nswnma.asn.au Hunter Office 8-14 Telford Street, Newcastle East NSW 2300
COVER STORY
12 | Strong support for PHS claim Members have endorsed the NSWNMA Public Health System (PHS) draft claim that aims to deliver a 2.5% pay rise and the extension of ratios into new specialty areas, as well as improvements in some hospitals. Helen Wilmore
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Editorial Your letters News in brief Ask Judith Social media Nursing research online Crossword Books Movies of the month Diary dates
ENVIRONMENT
FOR ALL EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES, LETTERS AND DIARY DATES: T 8595 1234 E lamp@nswnma.asn.au M 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 Produced by Hester Communications T 9568 3148 Press Releases Send your press releases to: F 9662 1414 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au
PHOTOGRAPH: Sharon Hickey
REGULARS
NSWNMA Communications Manager Janaki Chellam-Rajendra T 8595 1258
COMMUNITY NURSES
14 | Time to care The Association’s community health campaign aims to match the growing demand for more health care at home with more time for community nurses to deliver that care.
Editorial Committee • Brett Holmes, NSWNMA General Secretary • Judith Kiejda, NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary • Coral Levett, NSWNMA President • Roz Norman, Tamworth Base Hospital • Elsie May Henson, Barraba Multi Purpose Service • Peg Hibbert, Hornsby & Ku-Ring-Gai Hospital • Michelle Cashman, Long Jetty Continuing Care • Richard Noort, Justice Health Advertising Patricia Purcell T 8595 2139 or 0416 259 845 or F 9662 1414 E ppurcell@nswnma.asn.au Records and Information Centre – Library To find old articles in The Lamp, or to borrow from the NSWNMA nursing and health collection, contact: Jeannette Bromfield, RIC Coordinator T 8595 2175 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au
MP VISITS
The Lamp ISSN: 0047-3936
24 | Alarm over coal dust
21 | Visit your MP to gain support for ratios NSWNMA members have begun visiting their local MP to explain the need to extend and improve nurse-patient ratios in New South Wales.
SYDNEY ALLIANCE
30 | Getting involved to tackle Sydney issues
COMMUNITY NURSES
28 | No reform without nurses
Federal health minister Tanya Plibersek says nurses are critical to the success of health care reform.
General disclaimer The Lamp is the official magazine of the NSWNMA. Views expressed in articles are contributors’ own and not necessarily those of the NSWNMA. Statements of fact are believed to be true, but no legal responsibility is accepted for them. All material appearing in The Lamp is covered by copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission. The NSWNMA takes no responsibility for the advertising appearing herein and it does not necessarily endorse any products advertised. Privacy Privacy statement: The NSWNMA collects personal information from members in order to perform our role of representing their industrial and professional interests. We place great emphasis on maintaining and enhancing the privacy and security of your personal information. Personal information is protected under law and can only be released to someone else where the law requires or where you give permission. If you have concerns about your personal information please contact the NSWNMA office. If you are still not satisfied that your privacy is being maintained you can contact the Privacy Commission. Subscriptions for 2013 Free to all Association members. Professional members can subscribe to the magazine at a reduced rate of $50. Individuals $78, Institutions $130, Overseas $140. THE LAMP MARCH 2013 | 3