Public Health
2024 PHS claim underlines need to invest in ratios
Stronger public investment in safe staffing ratios is an important part of the NSWNMA’s 2024 log of claims for a new public health system award.
The NSWNMA presented a document outlining the 2024 claims to the state government on 10 May.
The document welcomed the start of the ratios rollout and the government’s commitment to deliver 2480 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in public hospitals.
However, more FTE positions will be needed to fully implement safe staffing ratios across the agreed five clinical areas, the document said.
Those five areas are:
- emergency departments
- intensive care units
- maternity (a review of Birthrate Plus and 1:3 in postnatal wards)
- multi-purpose services
- converting nursing-hour-per- patient-day wards and units to a shift-by-shift system.
The log of claims document said that under the current ratios rollout, assistants in nursing or midwifery cannot be introduced into a staffing profile where they do not already exist, unless consultation with the NSWNMA occurs, and the number per shift that count towards the ratio is limited.
“Our claim for AINs to be supernumerary remains,” it said.
“Our position is that the government should fund this important workforce initiative within this term of government so that we are competitive nationally on workloads.
“All wards, units, and departments must be staffed with nurses and midwives who have the relevant skills and knowledge for that clinical setting, and with staff supported by CNEs/CMEs to develop their skills for the clinical setting.
“In line with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2023 between the NSWNMA and the Ministry of Health, we are seeking further funding to achieve full implementation of these historic reform measures.”
The document said the union’s Award claim will help to retain an experienced and skilled workforce in NSW and encourage the retention of early career nurses and midwives.
“ We need functioning and sustainable public hospitals in NSW. A well-remunerated and well-resourced nursing and midwifery workforce is critical to achieving this.”
Minister says Taskforce will review initial rollout
Health Minister Ryan Park said the joint government–union Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce will review the initial ratios rollout at Liverpool and Royal North Shore EDs “and use these experiences to help inform the rollout at future sites.”
Both hospitals are under critical pressure to serve their growing communities, Mr Park told parliament. “Phase one (of the rollout) starts 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,” he said.
“Over the course of the next three years, the single biggest reform to the way in which we staff our hospitals will see around 2480 additional nurses pumped into a system that so desperately needs them.”