Nurse patient ratio to be overidden by computer system
Broadcast: 23/04/2004  Reporter: Josephine Cafagna  JOSEPHINE
CAFAGNA, REPORTER: The central issue that has brought Victoria's
health system to its knees is the nurse-patient ratio. The
Bracks Government wants to eliminate it, Victorian nurses are
determined to keep it.  ALEC DJONEFF, VICTORIAN HOSPITALS
INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION: That is the fundamental bone of
contention. We believe the union has only told their members
half the story, it is not an easy story to tell but it is a very
rational story otherwise we wouldn't be doing it.  LISA
FITZPATRICK, ANF: Nurses are committed to the bans. They are
committed to ensuring that the public health system doesn't
deteriorate to what it was back in the 1990s. And I know that
they are very, very determined to maintain their nurse-patient
ratios, what they fought so hard to achieve in 2000 and what
they fought hard to keep in 2001.  JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: The system
the Government wants to install in all hospitals is