Last Wednesday hundreds of nurses at four major hospitals on the North Coast protested against the Health Service’s decision to continue with its planned reorganisation of staff.

The service aims to cut 400 FTE (full-time equivalent) positions within the next year.

NSW Nurses Association secretary Brett Holmes led one of the rallies in Coffs Harbour last week and slammed the Health Service for neglecting the communities it is supposed to support.

“Sites such as Ballina, Maclean, Bellingen, Wauchope, Kempsey, Dorrigo, Casino, Murwillumbah and Byron Bay lack definitive services in areas such as maternity, paediatrics, dialysis and cancer treatment,” he said.

“Kempsey Hospital still officially has a paediatric unit, but I am told has not had a child admitted for over two years.”

Mr Holmes also revealed Kempsey Hospital was the only service provider outside of the major hospitals that would retain its own Director of Nursing after the reorganisation.

The Health Service agreed the paediatric unit had not had any admissions for the previous two years, but said parents still had access to a long-term care provider - in Port Macquarie.

“Kempsey Hospital’s Paediatric Unit has a fully functional paediatric room available as part of its Emergency Department, for children who need short-term care,” a Health Service spokes- person said.

“As Port Macquarie hospital has a dedicated paediatrician available, parents and carers of children who require long-term care have the option to take their child to Port Macquarie.”

Kempsey nurses will continue their fight for an extra registered nurse per shift for the hospital’s Emergency Department this week.

Nurses will hold a candlelight vigil outside the front of the hospital between 8pm and 9pm tomorrow.