Nurses: We will no longer cheat patients! They are writing to Donald Tusk

The All-Poland Trade Union of Nurses and Midwives opposes the government's failure to address the shortage of nurses and midwives in public health care. In its position paper, the union states unequivocally that continued disregard for this crisis threatens the health and lives of patients.

The union strongly protests against "crediting health care at the expense of nurses" and refuses to take responsibility for the mistakes of those in power. "Today, the Polish government is failing to provide health security for patients," reads a communiqué from the union's executive board.

In the face of the government's application of a freeze against the citizen's bill on changing the way salaries are set in medical entities, nurses and midwives call on the Prime Minister to officially take a stand and answer the following questions:

• What measures has the government taken and what does it intend to take to stem the decline in the number of nurses and midwives in the public health system?
• When are measures planned to fully utilize the competencies of nurses and midwives, according to their training and experience?
• What steps has the government taken to prevent employers from breaking the law against nurses and midwives in public health care?
• What provisions has the government made for compensation related to court rulings on non-recognition of nurses' and midwives' professional qualifications?

Meanwhile, there are already some 50,000 lawsuits filed by nurses and midwives in the courts, demonstrating widespread violations of their rights. The government's failure to take appropriate action is leading to a staffing crisis in public health care, where staffing standards are not being met and on-call staffing remains inadequate, directly endangering patients.

Despite the increase in the number of places for nursing majors, most graduates choose to work in the private sector, failing to bring the expected improvement in the public system. "We will no longer cheat patients!" - declare the union's representatives, stressing that the government's current measures are insufficient to ensure the health security of citizens.

Nurses and midwives are calling for urgent action to improve the health care situation, and to stop ignoring a problem that could cost patients their health and even their lives.

Source: OZZPiP