The context of my email the other day was to highlight the problems of midwives and nurses who are willing to work in an agency capacity and are faced with a reduction in their workload because of "hospital cutbacks". The agency I work for provides me with much contact...numerous phone calls to me throughout the week, a cafe where I can obtain food and drink at no cost (this gives me the opportunity to catch up with fellow midwives and nurses I have worked with in the past who are also employed by this same agency), and a uniform that is appropriate for the work that I do also at no cost to me. They are also available from 5:30am till approx. 2230hrs. per day for any advice and support I require.They also provide me with a weekly income, study days and any information I wish to access to further my career.
They are a central service that provides staff to a large number of hospitals seven days a week and as far as I am concerned like all businesses entitled to a degree of remuneration for their availability. Given that they have requests from hospitals for 100's of shifts per week I would say their need is much warranted.
Jenny
>From: "Macha McDonald" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "ozmidwifery" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: RE: agency work
>Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 22:54:53 +1100
>
>In the case of my husband, he worked through the one agency for a little
>over 2 years...we'll say 2 years. In that time, he earned about $90,000,
>which is about $860 a week, about $170 a day, and about $21 per hour...all
>before tax. It was revealed that the agency were charging the company $50
>per hour for his services. So, the agency were getting $1160 per week, or
>$60,320 per year. The only contact my husband had with the agency was about
>one phone call per 6 months, a pay slip each week, 2 group certificates and
>one interview. For that, they made $120,000 over 2 years!!!! I don't know
>about anyone else, but that seems ridiculous to me!!! If the hospital can't
>find someone to interview a prospective employee (even the cleaner could do
>it), and save themselves that much money, there has got to be something
>wrong with the system!!! I am all for hospitals having their own nurse
>banks, no change to the employee's wages.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Jayne
> Sent: Saturday, 23 February 2002 11:48 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: re: agency work
>
>
> Agencies also take care of the Workcover and superannuation so you can
>take that out of the Agency's cut. They also do the interviewing and
>numerous other things to ascertain whether a person is suitable for a
>position so of course that cost is taken care of and doesn't fall back on
>the hospital.
>
> Agencies are also a business and it costs them money to provide their
>services. And we all need to earn $$$ at the end of the day!!!
>
> I think the hospitals will revert to employing agency staff because it is
>easier and as in many industries that use agency staff, it can often be
>cheaper for them!
>
>
> Jayne
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Macha McDonald
> To: ozmidwifery
> Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 10:21 PM
> Subject: agency work
>
>
> I am a bit divided on this issue. My mum is an agency nurse, and her
>workload is already small, and about to be made smaller. So, I can
>understand how you, and my mum feel. However, My husband has worked through
>agencies (not nursing) and it seems these agencies cost the hospitals, and
>ultimately the public, an arm and a leg (terrible pun!!!). While your pay
>is better than that of permanent staff, the agency can get up to double what
>you get an hour. It cost my husband's work more than $50 an hour to employ
>him. Of that, he got a little over $19 per hour. I don't think our
>'public' health system should be charged through the nose, because it is
>running short of funds as it is. My mum spoke something of the hospitals
>setting up their own nurse banks. Anyone know any more about this? I think
>if that were the case, and the money was staying in the hospitals and not
>going to a wealthy private firm, I'd be glad to have my tax money pay temp
>nurses more than a permanent.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Jenny Balnaves
> Sent: Friday, 22 February 2002 12:23 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject:
>
>
> To all OzMidwives working out there..this is in reference to the
>directive from the Victorian Government regarding agency nurses/midwives.
> I am a practising midwife, having worked in this field for 26+years.
>Due to a change in my work situation, I began working with an agency late
>last year and have found the experience of working at different hospitals as
>a midwife, both in the city of Melbourne, and in rural areas very
>refreshing. Unfortunately because of escalating costs the government has
>decided to reduce the usage of agency nurses/midwives unless absolutely
>necessary (agency staff are only to be used to replace sick staff and are
>NOT to be utilised for staffing numbers). As a result my workload is to be
>reduced. My question is this...why should we be penalised if we are prepared
>to travel to different hospitals to "help out" when there are staff
>shortages and the like? There is a definite need for agency nurses/midwives
>and I feel it is sad that those in power assume we are receiving too much
>money for our practice. To me..it looks like we are taking a large step
>backwards.
> If I am prepared to travel in all directions for my work, at the last
>minute, and assimilate in an unfamiliar environment as well as occasionally
>be met with a degree of hostility because I am an Ägency Midwife", should I
>not be encouraged? At the going rate of pay these days for permanent
>staff...which when you think about it is still not very good for the work
>that we do, those of us that do work agency should be encouraged and given
>what dollars we earn in return for good work practice.
> I welcome replies from anyone out there who has an opinion on this
>matter.
> May I also add, that apart from one or two minor incidences..I have
>been extremely well received in all places I have worked and reiterate that
>I enjoy the experience of Agency Midwifery immensely.
> Thank you, Jenny.
>
>
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