Cessnock Hospital has now begun rostering to Safe Staffing Levels in the emergency department (ED), as the NSW Government continues to deliver on its promise to deliver the historic staffing reform.
Cessnock Hospital recently completed a successful recruitment campaign of an additional 2.08 FTE nurses in the emergency department (ED), to fulfil the Safe Staffing Level requirements.
In total, 56 EDs have commenced implementation of Safe Staffing Levels across Sydney and regional NSW, with 30 EDs having already completed recruitment. Across the state, more than 860 FTE nurses have been recruited in emergency departments since the Safe Staffing Levels rollout started.
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 in generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay unit beds on all shifts.
The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce was established to oversee the rollout of the NSW Government's commitment of 2,480 FTE. It includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health, and local health districts.
The former Coalition government cut healthcare staff, capped their wages and refused to introduce ratios.
The Minns Labor Government is getting things back on track, making the long-term investments into recruiting more staff and building more hospitals to better meet the growing health needs of our community and relieve pressure on our health system.
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:
- Abolishing the wages cap;
- Delivering the largest pay increase for nurses in more than two decades and the largest pay rise ever for the lowest paid nurses in NSW;
- Saving 1,112 nurses which the Liberal Government planned to sack;
- Recruiting 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities; and
- Supporting our future health workforce through providing them with study subsidies
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
"Safe Staffing Levels is one of the most significant reforms in the way our hospitals have been staffed in decades.
"The Minns Labor Government is delivering on the long-term reforms needed to rebuild a health system for the future, following years of wage suppression and neglect by the Liberals and Nationals.
"Completing the roll out of Safe Staffing Levels in the Emergency Department at Cessnock Hospital is a significant accomplishment and reflects our commitment to continuing to improve health services for both staff and patients."
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley:
"Nurses at Cessnock Hospital and across the Hunter do an extraordinary job, and they deserve to know there are enough staff beside them on every shift.
"This is exactly why the Minns Labor Government is rolling out Safe Staffing Levels - to back our nurses, ease pressure on our hospitals and make sure communities in the Hunter get the care they need and deserve."
Quotes attributable to Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr:
"This important reform aims to provide better support to our hardworking frontline health staff, and more timely, personalised care to the community here in Cessnock and surrounding areas."
Quotes attributable to General Secretary, NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association Michael Whaites:
"We welcome the rollout of Safe Staffing Levels at Cessnock Hospital.
"Nurse-to-patient ratios in the ED will lead to timely, quality care for patients while ensuring members work in safe conditions.
"This election commitment is a crucial workforce reform and we look forward to seeing the rollout progress across all EDs in NSW."
