Kempsey Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED).

Local nurses will stage a rally next Thursday protesting over staffing levels in the ED.

They claim nurses are being stretched to the limit and it is only a matter of time until patient safety is put at serious risk.

The dispute went before the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) last year, however, the com-mission failed to grant nurses’ requests, instead siding with the Health Service.

“As part of the IRC dispute resolution process, it was agreed that Kempsey ED data would be collected over a six month period,” a spokesperson for the health service said.

“It was agreed to collect data on nursing, medical and support staffing levels; acuity of patients; presentations; skill mix and comparison to like hospitals.”

“The data collection process did not support the appointment of additional nursing staff to the Kempsey Hospital ED.

“Therefore, with the agreement of the NSW Nurses Association the dispute before the IRC was discontinued.”

The rally will be held in the Kempsey CBD from 10am to noon under the theme ‘Help us Help you’.