Additional nurses recruited as 27 hospitals roll out Safe Staffing ratios in rural and regional NSW

27 hospitals across rural and regional NSW are introducing Safe Staffing Levels in emergency departments, with a number of facilities already completed recruitment. This brings the total number of hospitals commencing the roll-out of Safe Staffing Levels to more than 40 across the state.

The implementation of the reform aims to support the experience of patients, with over 570 FTE nurses already recruited in Emergency Departments across the state.

The Safe Staffing Levels initiative involves rostering minimum staffing levels on every shift, which will result in more nurses employed in hospitals right across the state.

The staffing boost enables the rostering of a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied ED resuscitation beds on all shifts, and one nurse to three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay unit beds on all shifts.

The 27 regional and rural hospitals rolling out Safe Staffing Levels in EDs include:

• Port Macquarie
• Lismore
• Coffs Harbour
• John Hunter
• Wollongong
• Tamworth
• Gosford
• Wagga Wagga
• Orange
• Tweed Valley
• Dubbo
• Griffith
• Manning
• Maitland
• South East Regional
• Shoalhaven
• Macksville
• Leeton
• Young
• Bathurst
• Ballina
• Grafton
• Armidale
• Cessnock
• Moruya
• Kempsey
• Shellharbour

The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce was established to oversee the rollout of the Government’s commitment of 2,480 FTE over four years. It includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health, and local health districts.

Phase one of Safe Staffing Levels commenced in the level five and six emergency departments, which treat the most critically ill patients, and is being implemented progressively across other key areas in a phased approach.

Implementing Safe Staffing Levels is just one of a range of measures that the Minns Labor Government is embracing to build a more supported health workforce, including:

• funding the equivalent of 1,112 FTE nurse and midwife positions on an ongoing basis
• abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers
• 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.

The Minns Labor Government’s introduction of Safe Staffing Levels forms one part of a comprehensive plan to build a better health system across NSW.

After 12 years of neglect and a lack of investment in our health system, the NSW Government is rebuilding this essential service we all rely on.

Quotes attributable to Health Minister Ryan Park:

“Safe Staffing Levels are about delivering safer, better care for patients, while making sure our nurses have the support they need on every shift.

“For too long, hospitals across regional and rural NSW have been left behind, but this reform is changing that – with hundreds of additional nurses already recruited and more on the way.

“This is about building a stronger health system for patients, families, and staff, no matter where you live.”