In recent weeks, over a thousand nurses and midwives have walked off the job, closed beds and taken part in rallies at more than 30 public health sites across the state.

New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association councillor and Griffith branch secretary, Kristy Wilson, said mandated shift-by-shift ratios were desperately needed to boost staffing, including one nurse to three patients in emergency and one nurse to four patients in medical and surgical wards.

"We need mandated shift-by-shift ratios to guarantee safe staffing here in Griffith, instead of the growing workloads and overtime we're constantly battling," Mrs Wilson said.

Mrs Wilson said it was shameful how nurses across NSW were being treated and that it was time for the state government to step up.

"The government can't continue simply relying on the goodwill of nurses and midwives working under these pressures, it's not safe for patients or the staff," Mrs Wilson said.

None of the nurses in attendance blamed local hospital management, rather the state government for their historical inaction on the issue.

Matthew Doherty from the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association said that nurses from Griffith Base Hospital were frustrated that once again their calls for urgent safe staffing had been ignored, despite the widespread evidence of short staffing.

"For more than a decade we have been calling for mandated rations to be introduced in NSW," Mr Doherty said.

"What we're seeking is not excessive. It is to make hospitals in NSW safe for everyone involved."

RELATED

Union member Julie Henderson said that the conditions were crippling, with many nurses passing breaking point.

"It is by the grace of god that we have not had a serious incident as of yet," Mrs Henderson said.

Community nurse Evonne Peisley shared this sentiment, saying it was good luck rather than good management that patients at Griffith Base Hospital were still able to receive such a high level of care

"The only reason you don't hear about us on television is because the staff go above and beyond, working overtime and well past the point of exhaustion to look after their patients," Mrs Peisley said.

Member for Murray Helen Dalton attended the rally in support of the nurses, telling The Area News that a pay raise and more funding were critical to keeping good nurses employed at the hospital.

"We want our nurses to stay in our towns and for the NSW Government to address their staffing concerns," Mrs Dalton said

"There is no point building a new hospital if we don't have good people to staff it."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: