Hospital patients across NSW could be left waiting due to strike this week
Hospital patients across New South Wales could be left waiting for release as paramedics take unprecedented industrial action later this week.
The planned strike is part of an escalating battle between the unions and Premier Chris Minns, who promised 400,000 workers a pay rise during the March election campaign.
Paramedics and Patient Transport Officers are teaming up in their first joint strike on Thursday morning.
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There are calls for higher safety standards for NSW paramedics and hospital workers with more and more reports of assaults on staff members. 9News
Patients will not be taken from hospital to home or aged care facilities, which will stall discharges from hospitals, but emergency callouts will still be answered.
Exceptions will also be made for end-of-life patients and those on dialysis.
Gerard Hayes from the Health Services Union said they had not had any discussions with Minns.
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"He's obviously got higher priorities than health workers," Hayes said.
"Over the next few days, you'll see a lot more unions coming out and saying time is up."
Minns said he believed the government was in the process of developing an offer for public sector workers.
The unions said it was too late.
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