26 September 2023

Union helps stressed up health workers

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The Health Services Union (HSU) has set up a survey for its members to record their work and mental health conditions as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put pressure on health, aged care and disability workers.

Secretary of the HSU, Gerard Hayes said a large part of NSW’s population was once again dealing with an outbreak that did not look like it was going away any time soon.

“Everyone in Health is doing it tough,” Mr Hayes said.

“Control Centre Officers are spending whole shifts with depleted resources, on-road paramedics are being exposed to the Delta variant, restrictive PPE, constant updated and changing messaging from management, staffing shortages, all on top of members’ already stressful shifts with no breaks or end-of-shift overtime, and hospital delays,” he said.

“As this wave of the pandemic continues, it will take a toll on members and their families’ mental health.”

Mr Hayes said increased work pressures, restrictions on days off and distance from family and friends were affecting HSU members.

“So, it’s time to take the opportunity to ask you how things are going and how supported you are currently feeling in the workplace,” he said.

The Secretary asked members to fill in the HSU survey to let the Union know how they were and what it could do to ensure they got the support they needed.

Mr Hayes said the HSU had also set up a specific email address, [email protected], for members to ensure their COVID-19-related questions, concerns or issues were dealt with promptly.

The HSU survey can be accessed at this PS News link.

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