Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) has become the latest NSW hospital to implement safe staffing levels as the Minns Labor Government continues to deliver on its promise to deliver staffing reform.
RPA recently completed a successful recruitment campaign of more than 21 FTE of nurses in the Emergency Department, to facilitate the Safe Staffing Level requirements.
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 staffing boost will enable 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 2480 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 has commenced in the level 5 and 6 emergency departments, which treat the most critically ill patients, and will then be progressively implemented 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 supported and capable 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;
- beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities; and
- introducing the health worker study subsidies scheme.
RPAH ED is the fourth site to complete recruitment and roster Safe Staffing. Earlier this month, John Hunter Hospital Emergency Department completed the recruitment of approximately 48 FTE additional nurses to meet the Safe Staffing Level requirements.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
"The Minns Labor Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to roll out major staffing reform.
"These safe staffing measures will deliver improved staffing numbers to provide care for patients in their time of need, while supporting our frontline staff.
"RPA has one of the busiest EDs in the state and the new safe staffing initiative is an additional measure to ensure patients will continue to receive world class care."
