Article written by Olivia Babb
Just days after the planned nurses strike, Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson announced that forty new graduate nurses would begin work in the Tamworth electorate.
The new grads will be based in Barraba Multi-Purpose Service, Gunnedah District Hospital, Manilla Multi-Purpose Service, Tamworth Hospital, Banksia Mental Health Inpatient Unit and Walcha Multi-Purpose Service.
Mr Anderson says he supports the nurse strikes,
"Nurses here know they've got my full support. That's why we're here today backing him and that's why we're welcoming those forty nurses."
One of the demands healthcare workers made at the Tuesday strikes was for a better patient to staff ratio. The addition of nurses is hoped to ease the pressure within the regional departments.
Recently redeveloped in 2017, Tamworth hospital had a $211 million construction and a regional cancer centre built.
Susan Hayman, Executive Director for rural and regional health service, believes the nurses are an excellent step for the hospital and the placement of new Ear, Nose, Throat surgeon, Dr Hossein Ghazavi.
Patients requiring any ENT advice for treatment were previously referred to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle through an outreach program and virtual care, a system that has been utilised during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I think in the rural area, we tend to think of [virtual healthcare] as second best. I don't think it is second best. I think it's a compliment to having a doctor on the ground" Ms Hayman said.
Dr Ghazavi will be consulting weekly from Tamworth Hospital and utilising the new state of the art facilities, including a new $750,000 microscope for procedures such as tonsillectomies.