'It's crushing my soul': Nurses in NSW strike for 24 hours in call for better conditions

Thousands of New South Wales nurses and midwives have stopped work to march in their local communities today, to protest for better staffing conditions and pay from the state government.

The rallies are being held for 24 hours in the city and regional centres across the state, for the fourth time this year, starting from 7am.

It comes as the NSW health system strains under the latest coronavirus wave.

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Nurses are demanding better staff-to-patient ratios and increased pay, the same issues they've been flagging in the three previous strikes.

They say the system is at breaking point with not enough health workers to safely manage patients.

President of the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) O'Bray Smith has been a nurse for more than 20 years.

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"I have seen a decline in services, resources and an incline in morbidity and mortality as a direct result of mismanagement from the echelons in health," she told the crowd.

Nurses protesting in Sydney CBD told 9News they were planning to vote the government out at the next election.

"You work hard to get us through a crisis and this government has walked away and turned its back on you all," one healthcare worker said.

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"I'm sick of having to prioritise who gets the care and what care they get it, it's crushing my soul," another protestor said.

The NSWNMA said during the strike, life-preserving services will be maintained in all public hospitals and health services.

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NSWNMA assistant general secretary, Michael Whaites, said some members were so fed up they were moving interstate for work.

"Our members are angry and upset, knowing so many colleagues with years of clinical experience are moving to work interstate or choosing to leave the profession."

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Meanwhile, nurses in Western Australia are planning a statewide strike on Friday after union members rejected the latest pay and conditions offer from the state government.

They are now demanding a 5 per cent pay rise and new talks with the health minister.