General
Nursing crisis predicted in NSW
NSW Ministry of Health figures uncovered by an ABC Freedom of Information investigation predict a shortage of up to 8,000 registered nurses and midwives across NSW in the next decade.
The analysis predicts that by 2030, 82,000 full-time registered nurses and midwives will be needed, but only 74,000 will be available – a gap of 8,000 workers.
The outlook for enrolled nurses is equally dire. This year alone, the ABC reports: “NSW will need to find 2,000 full-time enrolled nurses to meet demand, and on current trends, the shortage will continue to grow”.
“The current workforce of 9,000 full-time staff will plummet to 7,500 by 2030, while at the same time demand will sky-rocket to about 13,000.”
According to the ABC the official data predicts a “catastrophic” shortage of staff in south-west Sydney.
Acting General Secretary of the NSWNMA, Judith Kiejda, said the predicted nursing workforce shortages were not a huge surprise; however,the key concern was ensuring the Berejiklian Government and the Ministry of Health took the modelling seriously.
“We have been lobbying this government for the past seven years to urgently improve and expand nurse-to-patient ratios to address the current shortfalls we already have in the delivery of safe patient care across the state’s public hospital system,” Ms Kiejda said.
“It’s imperative the government doesn’t play these figures down but instead, actually starts planning to meet the predicted demand of our growing population.”
Members of the NSWNMA… share your thoughts on articles in the Lamp or anything else important to you as nurses and midwives by sending a Letter to the Editor. Four letters are published in the Lamp each month and the letter chosen as Letter of the Month will win a gift card. Please include a high-resolution photo along with your name, address, phone and membership number. You can submit your letter by emailing the Lamp: lamp@nswnma.asn.au