Nurses and midwives in the Illawarra Shoalhaven say they continue to face staff shortages and poor work conditions.
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Shoalhaven Hospital branch secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Michael Clarke said the current work situation facing his members was demoralising "because they're tired of working short staffed".
"Our members [also] have a moral injury because they feel like they can't provide the care they should be providing to their patients because they don't have the resources available at this hospital," he said.
Part of the problem was an ongoing State Government wages cap, keeping pay rises for public servants including nurses, midwives and paramedics below inflation, Mr Clarke said.
He said the cap was "restricting fair pay for a dedicated and educated, professional workforce who provide an important service to the Shoalhaven community."
He welcomed a Greens promise of a major pay rise for frontline health workers, which would be delivered if the party holds the balance of power after the March state election.
Greens health spokesperson Cate Faehrmann was in Nowra on Monday to outline plans to lift wages for nurses, midwives and paramedics by 15 per cent to "reverse the impact" of the year's -long wage cap.
On top of that, she promised wage rises at 2.5 per cent above inflation for the next four years.
"This sounds like a lot of money, but we can't afford to lose more health care workers from the front line," Ms Faehrmann said.
She said frontline workers were still leaving the health system "in droves".
"This is a crisis," Ms Faehrmann said.
South Coast Greens candidate Amanda Findley described the proposed wage rises as "a cheap option for the NSW Government because that encourages trained nurses to stay in the system".
The Greens are also calling for nurse to patient ratios to be introduced.
Ms Findley said nurse to patient ratios would result in better health outcomes and the health system saving money.
President of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, Max Moore, agreed it was a win-win situation.
"The cost of implementing the ratios would be saved by reducing adverse outcomes and decreased length of stay in hospitals, so it would pay for itself."
