Last month more than 200 nurses and midwives protested the decision to close ward B3A at Westmead hospital.

Yesterday Chief Executive of the Western Sydney Local Health District, Danny O’Connor claimed ward closures are routine practice over warmer months.

But General Secretary, NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, Brett Holmes has told Ray Hadley that’s not the case.

“It’s not very usual to see a surgical ward close as a result of the end of the winter bed period.”

He puts the closure down to lack of funding.

“This closure is simply about having run out of money and wanting to slow down the expenditure.

“We’ve seen other evidence circulating around from emails that they are in financial difficulty.”

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is also in crisis with around 50% of surgeries being cancelled due to a lack of funding.

Listen to the full interview below