Hunter hospitals rolling-out safe staffing in EDs

TWENTY-SEVEN more hospitals across NSW are rolling-out safe staffing levels in their emergency departments.

In the broader Hunter region these include Manning Base Hospital, Maitland Hospital and John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

This brings to 40 the number of hospitals across the state that have started operating with safe staffing levels as a result of promised healthcare staffing reforms.

“For too long, hospitals across regional and rural NSW have been left behind, but this reform is changing that, with hundreds of additional nurses already recruited and more on the way,” Health Minister Ryan Park said.

At Manning Base Hospital, for instance, an additional 21 nurses will be rostered in ED.

MLC for Myall Lakes Emily Suvaal said the reforms will make a real difference for patients and nurses.

“The rollout of Safe Staffing Levels at Manning Hospital is about fairness – making sure people in the regions get the same quality of care as those in Sydney,” she said.

“As someone who has worked in the health system, I know how important it is for nurses to have the support they need on every shift.”

The new measures enable 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 Government’s commitment of 2480 full-time positions over four years.

The taskforce includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health, and local health districts.