The staffing situation at Tenterfield Hospital following representations from MP Janelle Saffin and the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association and a community rally remains grim.
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It is, if anything, worse than ever the association's Jo-Anne McKeough said. Ms McKeough will be in Tenterfield Wednesday evening to meet with local nurses to discuss the situation and will visit the hospital.
Logistical issues with sourcing agency staff at short notice following a number of resignations has returned the staffing quota to two nurses per shift despite a Hunter New England Local Area Health commitment to at least reinstate the third nurse on some shifts.
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Another community forum is being planned for Thursday, September 12. Ms McKeogh said the association is lobbying Tenterfield Shire Council to organise the event, but in the meantime the situation is dire.
"Staff are having a difficult time at the moment," she said.
"They're behind the eight-ball. It's difficult to get staff at the 11th hour.
"It's so absolutely dire it been raised with the general manager (Catharine Death) but the response was inadequate.
"We had a hint of returning to something resembling the previous staffing level, but we're back to square one."
Originally scheduled for August 18 the renovated emergency department has yet to reopen but Ms McKeough has been informed it's 'imminent'.
"It will be even worse by then," she said.
