The Western NSW Local Health District has temporarily suspended the use of five of the six inpatients beds at Nyngan Multipurpose Service (MPS) due to the ongoing inability to obtain Nursing staff.  

With patient care at the top of the list, the service made the difficult decision, with the aim of patient safety and welfare of nurses in mind. 

The recruitment of Health care workers to rural and regional areas is an increasing challenge and despite the support of the NSW Government offering incentive packages to retain and recruit staff at Nyngan MPS, registered and enrolled nurses’ positions have been identified as hard to fill.   

The situation is becoming alarming to the people of Nyngan, with beds being closed previously which resulted in residents being transferred to other centres away from their family and home. 

According to the family of one of these patients who wished to remain anonymous, this was a very distressing time for both the patient and the family, who felt that after a lifetime of service to the Nyngan community, they should have been able to be treated at the local hospital but were forced to endure several months away from loved ones.  

Bogan Shire Council Mayor Glenn Neill is set to meet with Derek Francis, Bogan Shire General Manager and Jenny Griffiths Nyngan Health Service Manager, Nyngan Multipurpose Service today, to discuss ways to alleviate the worrying situation. 

“This situation is unacceptable to our community. We have one hundred miners underground at any one time and many visitors travelling through our town each day, as well as our local residents,” said Mayor Neill. 

“If an accident occurred, people’s lives would be at risk, added to that the weight of care upon our nurses and health professionals is a matter of huge concern to us.” 

“We will be working closely with Western NSW Local Health District and our local members to lobby for a resolution of this situation as quickly as possible,” he said. 

“This is no reflection on the staff of Nyngan MPS, they are doing everything they can to offer the best possible service to their patients and the community appreciates their dedication,” said Mayor Neill. 

Chief Executive of the WNSWLHD, Mark Spittal, said while very disappointing the measure was essential for the wellbeing of nursing staff, and would help maintain the existing services at the MPS. 

“This is a temporary measure and one we’ve taken only after having exhausted other options,” Mr. Spittal said. 

“We have advertised repeatedly, tried to source agency staff, and offered redeployment opportunities from other facilities – and we’ll continue to do so until we secure more staff and are able to safely increase the available inpatient beds. 

“The emergency department will remain open, 24/7, and the care of residents in the aged care service won’t be affected. We will have a hospital bed available and staffed appropriately to be used when necessary. 

“Our hospitals operate as a network of services, so if a Nyngan resident requires longer term inpatient care, we will make arrangements for them to be cared for in another health facility as close to home as possible. 

“We apologise to the Nyngan community for any inconvenience caused. However, if staff aren’t available, it isn’t safe for patients, and it isn’t safe for those staff who are on the roster.”