Rodney Stevens
Recruitment has begun to hire an additional 29 full time equivalent nurses at Lismore Base Hospital, one of the first regional NSW hospitals where nurse-to-patient ratios are being rolled out, to help alleviate pressure on staffing in emergency departments.
While the implementation of nurse-to-patient ratios is being welcomed, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association NSWNMA is concerned about the pace of the phased rollout.
To meet the ratio of one nurse to every three treatment spaces in the emergency department, Lismore Base Hospital is recruiting 29 full time equivalent nurses and Port Macquarie Base Hospital will get 13 more full time equivalent nurses.
It is not known when funding will be available to implement nurse-to-patient ratios at Grafton Base Hospital and Maclean Hospital.
NSWNMA assistant General Secretary, Michael Whaites said it was pleasing that recruitment would begin for additional nurses at Lismore and Port Macquarie and that regional hospitals were included in the nurse-to-patient ratio rollout early, but members were frustrated by the slow implementation of safe staffing levels.
“We look forward to seeing these two regional hospitals receive a much-needed boost to their staffing numbers in the ED, which will improve the delivery of emergency patient care on the NSW mid and north coasts,” he said.
“However, only four out of more than 200 public hospitals have started receiving nurse-to-patient ratios since the Labor government was elected last year.
“We know many hospitals are struggling with staffing shortages and need shift by shift minimum and enforceable ratios urgently.
“We need the Ministry of Health and state government to speed up the safe staffing rollout, to ensure it is implemented smoothly and swiftly.
“Right across NSW, the public health system is struggling to recruit and retain the staff it needs to operate our hospitals due to poor pay and unbearable workloads.”
The Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award expired on June 30, and the NSWNMA is continuing to negotiate with the government on its 2024 pay and conditions claim.
“In order to rebuild the workforce and attract staff into the industry, nurses and midwives need a 15 per-cent one year pay increase to make their wages competitive with other states,” Mr Whaites said.
“As part of our claim, we are also seeking further funding for nurse-to-patient ratios so every unit and ward in every public hospital receives safe staffing.”