- Ratios to apply across metropolitan intensive and critical care units
- Expansion includes neonatal and paediatric services
- Funded through a $24.9 million investment in 2024-25 State Budget
- Cook Government investing in our health workforce
The Cook Government is continuing to strengthen patient safety and support nurses and midwives, with the next phase of nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios starting today.
This phase expands ratios into critical care settings across metropolitan hospitals, where patients require the highest level of clinical care, supporting safer patient outcomes and more sustainable workloads for nurses and midwives.
Ratios now apply across major metropolitan intensive and critical care units, including at Sir Charles Gairdner, Fiona Stanley, Rockingham General, Armadale and Royal Perth hospitals, as well as Perth Children's Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital.
The rollout also includes Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and designated paediatric wards, reinforcing Western Australia's commitment to safer outcomes for its most vulnerable patients.
This expansion builds on the successful implementation of ratios across inpatient settings, with early phases demonstrating strong compliance and positive workforce feedback.
New staffing standards under this phase ensure each shift includes an additional team leader, an appropriate skill mix, and minimum nurse or midwife-to-patient ratios that reflect patient acuity and clinical complexity.
The rollout is funded through a $24.9 million investment in the 2024-25 State Budget.
Work will continue with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (WA Branch) and other stakeholders to ensure ratios are implemented safely, consistently and sustainably.
Information about the rollout of the Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Program is on the HealthyWA website.
Comments attributed to Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"This is an important milestone in our long-term plan to deliver safer care and support the nurses and midwives who are the backbone of our health system.
"Nurses and midwives have been clear that safer workloads are essential to delivering high-quality care, and this expansion shows we are listening and responding to that feedback.
"Extending ratios into critical care settings ensures patients receive the right care, at the right time, with the right level of staffing.
"Strong compliance and positive feedback from earlier phases give us confidence this next stage will further improve patient outcomes and workforce wellbeing."
