John Hunter will be among the next 12 hospitals throughout the state to introduce Safe Staffing Levels (SSL) in its emergency department (ED).
And, the implementation of the NSW Government reform is set to improve the experience of patients and boost retention and capability of staff in public medical facilities.
The rollout began earlier this year at Liverpool, Royal North Shore, Port Macquarie Base and Lismore Base hospitals.
SSL involves the introduction of minimum staffing levels on every shift.
So, the boost of frontline healthcare workers at John Hunter Hospital should enable a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally-occupied ED resuscitation beds.
It also provides one nurse to three generally-occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay unit beds on all shifts.
The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce, which includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health and local health districts, will continue to work through the preparations to determine the FTE required to deliver the program at John Hunter Hospital over coming weeks and months.
“While equipment and facilities are important, they will never replace the care and compassion of our nurses,” Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said.
“They are the backbone of our healthcare system, giving patients vital care to people who are often in their darkest moments.
“Residents in the Hunter deserve the best healthcare.
“These changes will ensure patients get more personalised care with improved nurse-to-patient ratios at John Hunter.”
Phase one of Safe Staffing Levels begins in Level 5 and Level 6 EDs, which treat the most critically-ill patients.
They’ll then be progressively implemented across other hospitals and departments over a four-year period.
“Importantly, this reform will deliver improved nursing numbers to provide care for patients while supporting our frontline healthcare staff,” NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said.
“I’m thrilled we’re now onto the next 12 sites that will see implementation start over coming months.”
Implementing Safe Staffing Levels is just one of a range of measures the Minns government is embracing to build a supported and capable health workforce, including:
- Saving 1,112 nurse and midwife positions by making the roles permanent;
- Abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers;
- Beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural, and remote communities; and
- Introducing the health worker study subsidies scheme.
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