Wollongong Hospital recently completed a successful recruitment campaign of 30 FTE nurses in the emergency department (ED), to facilitate the Safe Staffing Level requirements.
Over 40 emergency departments have commenced implementation of Safe Staffing Levels across Sydney and regional NSW.
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 Labor 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.
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.
“Completing the roll out of Safe Staffing Levels in the Emergency Department at Wollongong Hospital is a significant accomplishment and reflects the Government's commitment to continuing to improve service delivery.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:
“This staffing boost will provide better support to our regions hardworking frontline health staff, and more timely, personalised care to patients visiting Wollongong Hospital’s Emergency Department.
“It further demonstrates the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare at Wollongong Hospital as we work towards the next major redevelopment, which we committed $220 million to in the recent budget.”
