Response to “Qld election 2024: Campbell Newman blamed for nursing burnout rate”
Published: 10 October 2024
I write to respond to the article “Qld election 2024: Campbell Newman blamed for nursing burnout rate” published in The Courier Mail online on 9 October 2024.
The actions of the Newman government, in cutting 1800 nurses and midwives a full decade ago, have contributed to the workforce crisis, but so too has an aging workforce, the COVID pandemic, unforeseen population growth and the cost of living.
These factors were all discussed yesterday as having impacted nurse and midwife burnout.
We know Queensland, like the rest of Australia and the world, is experiencing a nursing and midwifery workforce crisis. The fact demand for our services is outstripping our numbers has been a constant pain point for years. In fact, it’s been well documented as far back as 2014 that nursing and midwifery is an ageing workforce with many due to retire.
Policy decisions like those of the LNP Newman Government to cut 1800 nurses and midwives, as well as graduate and nurse educator positions, cannot be ignored as factors that worsened existing workforce issues. This LNP decision decimated the workforce and our pipeline to recruit new nurses and midwives.
Having little to no guarantee of obtaining a graduate position meant students felt a level of insecurity enrolling in nursing and midwifery study. Those lucky enough to secure work after graduating had far fewer educators to support them as early career nurses, a factor which was critical to their longevity in the professions.
While this occurred over ten years ago, you cannot cut that many valuable nurses and midwives without experiencing long-term and widespread ramifications.
Since that time, the COVID pandemic hit, and again we saw our nursing and midwifery workforce bear the brunt of a massive increase in demand when there simply weren’t enough of us.
There’s little wonder why our hardworking nurses and midwives are burning out and contemplating leaving the professions they love.
Since the LNP’s last term in government, we’ve been able to secure Labor government commitments including the re-instatement of nursing graduate positions and the implementation of legislated minimum nurse to patient and midwifery ratios. Free TAFE diplomas, paid placements, nation-leading pay and conditions, regional recruitment incentives and more encourage existing and future nurses and midwives to Queensland.
However, like the rest of the nation, there still aren’t enough nurses and midwives to meet demand in Queensland. Our members need hope and a clear plan to alleviate their workforce pressures.
This is why, in August, we asked both Labor and the LNP a series of important health questions to make clear their positions on the public health issues that matter to nurses, midwives and millions of Queensland patients.
So far, only Labor has provided answers.
Our nurses and midwives know how important public health is to Queensland. Everyone knows someone who currently relies on public health and public hospitals.
Frontline workers and the public need and deserve to know how the policies and plans of major parties will impact the future of our public health system and the provision of free, quality care in Queensland.
This is a basic ask from frontline nurses and midwives caring for Queenslanders.
Nurses and midwives have Queenslanders’ backs, and they need to know the government, whatever the political party, has theirs.
We await the LNP’s detailed response to the QNMU’s 15 important health questions. This response, due tomorrow (Friday 11 October) could guide the future of the public health system. The QNMU will share this response with nurses, midwives, voters and the media.
Warm regards,
Sarah Beaman
QNMU Secretary