South Australian nurses have withdrawn threats to halt some elective or non-urgent surgery but have been lashed by the state government for waging a "political" campaign over the crisis in public hospitals.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation said Health Minister Stephen Wade had provided extra detail on the state government's plans to handle overcrowding issues, particularly the high demand on emergency departments.
State secretary Elizabeth Dabars said executive members had agreed that industrial action would not be escalated to halt operations with that decision likely to be endorsed by a meeting of nurses on Friday.
But Mr Wade described the federation's decision as an "embarrassing backdown".
"I am pleased that the nurses' union has withdrawn their threat to patient safety, I just hope it marks the end of their political campaign," he said.
"The union should never have threatened patient safety for political purposes."
South Australian chief nurse Jennifer Hurley said the resolution of key points in the dispute was a win for patients.
"This is also a win for nurses and midwives who come every day to do the best that they can for our health system," she said.
Ms Dabars said the federation's action on the overcrowding crisis was driven by concerns over patient safety.
"The government and the minister has committed to opening up 50 general beds with immediate effect and a further 11 mental health beds with immediate effect," she said.
"And in addition it has committed to maintaining the beds currently open under the winter strategy."
Ms Dabars said the extra detail and the government's commitment to provide the necessary staffing and resources was a direct result of nurses "stepping up and advocating for their patients".
Nurses had planned to try to stop some low category or non-urgent operations from Thursday although the government disputed their ability to take such action.
Mr Wade said repeatedly that no surgical procedures would be cancelled as a result of industrial action.
The minister stood by the government's management of the current situation, including moving some patients to country hospitals, others to private hospitals and to exploring longer-term solutions such as reactivating the Repatriation General Hospital which was closed by the previous Labor government.
Australian Associated Press
