Port Macquarie Base Hospital will become one of the first regional hospitals in NSW to commence rollout of the new Safe Staffing Levels.
Port Macquarie Base Hospital is the latest site in NSW to commence roll out of the new Safe Staffing Levels in its emergency department, with recruitment underway for approximately 13 FTE additional nurses to meet Safe Staffing Levels requirements. Lismore Base Hospital is also currently undertaking recruitment as part of the Safe Staffing Levels roll out.
The staffing boost at Lismore and Port Macquarie Base Hospitals facilitates staffing levels based on a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied Emergency Department (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.
This follows discussions with the Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce - established to oversee the rollout of the Government's commitment of the equivalent of 2,480 full-time employees over four years towards staffing levels. It includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health, and local health districts.
Implementation of safe staffing level areas is scheduled to occur in phases over the next three years.
Phase one of safe staffing levels is initially commencing in Level 5 and Level 6 EDs, which treat the most critically ill patients, and will then be progressively implemented across other hospitals and departments.
The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce will review the initial rollout at these facilities to help inform the rollout at future sites.
Implementing safe staffing levels is just one of a range of measures that the NSW Government is embracing to build a more supported health workforce, including:
- 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.
Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:
"The rollout of Safe Staffing Levels aims to improve the experience of our patients and staff and boost retention, capacity and capability in our hospitals.
"The Safe Staffing Levels initiative involves the introduction of minimum staffing levels on every shift, which will result in more nurses employed in hospitals right across the state.
"The rollout began earlier this year at Liverpool Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospitals, with Port Macquarie Base Hospital and Lismore Base Hospital now coming on board.
"Importantly, this reform will deliver improved nursing numbers to provide care for patients while supporting our frontline healthcare staff.
"I look forward to working with representatives from the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association and NSW Health as part the Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce as they review this rollout and use these experiences to help inform safe staffing levels implementation at future sites."
Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Port Macquarie Cameron Murphy:
"This initiative aims to support the attraction and retention of health staff in these regional areas to help ensure local patients have better access to safe, high-quality care.
"This will make a big difference to nurses in the emergency department at Port Macquarie Base Hospital, and be a major benefit for everyone in the community who requires emergency care at the hospital."
