The roll out of safe staffing levels has reached another milestone, as the Minns Labor Government continues to deliver on this historic reform.
Kempsey District Hospital has become the first hospital with a level four emergency department in NSW to begin rostering to Safe Staffing Levels, having recently completed the successful recruitment of 6.09 FTE nurses in the emergency department (ED) to fulfill the Safe Staffing Level requirements.
In total, 56 EDs have commenced implementation of Safe Staffing Levels across Sydney and regional NSW, with 26 EDs having already completed recruitment. Across the state, more than 800 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 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 Minns 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.
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 and delivering the largest wage increase to healthcare workers in a decade;
- Saving 1,112 nurses which the Liberal Government planned to sack; and
- Supporting our future health workforce by providing them with study subsidies
- Delivering 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
"We are continuing to deliver on our commitment to rebuild the health workforce with the introduction of safe staffing ratios in our hospitals - one of the largest structural reforms to our health workforce in a generation.
"This comes after more than a decade of neglect and wage suppression by the former Coalition government.
"By building an engaged and supported workforce, we can help deliver safer, better care for patients, and rolling out safe staffing is just one of the ways we are doing that."
Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Oxley Anthony D'Adam:
"Achieving Safe Staffing Levels in the Emergency Department at Kempsey District Hospital is a major win for our community.
"I welcome the successful recruitment of these nurses to the busy emergency department of Kempsey District Hospital.
"Thank you to all the staff who have contributed to this achievement and for your continued focus on delivering safe, high-quality care for the Mid North Coast community."
