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Paediatric nurses from Sydney Children’s Hospital are calling for better patient ratios, saying sick kids are being left at risk.

A group of nurses will gather for a demonstration after their shifts in Sydney today to try to draw attention to their cause, following a similar event by health workers at Blacktown Hospital yesterday.

Emergency admissions are on the rise, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association says.

The association says a ratio of one nurse to three patients is needed for proper care.

NSWNMA general secretary Shaye Candish said infants and young children were some of the most vulnerable patients, who often cannot communicate what is wrong and do require specialised care.

“Our members at Sydney Children’s Hospital are highly skilled clinicians. They want to be able to deliver safe and effective care to paediatric patients coming through the emergency department doors and onto their wards,” Candish said.

“It is not safe to have sick kids and their families waiting for extended periods to start treatment given how quickly they can deteriorate.”