Vic: Nurses work bans hurting emergency departments: Pike

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2004
Vic: Nurses work bans hurting emergency departments: Pike

Victoria's Health Minister BRONWYN PIKE has rubbished union claims that work bans by
the state's nurses are not affecting emergency departments and causing hardship.

Ms PIKE says it is absolute nonsense that the bans -- which have forced the closure
of over 600 public hospital beds and the cancellation of 114 operations -- are not causing
problems.

She's told ABC radio people are banking up in emergency departments because there are
no beds available.

The government applied to have the work bans outlawed and force the dispute to arbitration
as talks with the Australian Nursing Federation broke down yesterday.

The dispute is set to continue through the weekend, after the state government's application
to have the work bans declared illegal was listed to be heard on Monday.

AAP RTV mf/gfr/swe/rt

KEYWORD: NURSES VIC (MELBOURNE)

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