Wagga Wagga hospital is one of the areas included in the Safe Staffing Levels roll-out. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Nearly a dozen hospitals in southern NSW have joined a system that promises minimum nurse-patient ratios.
The Safe Staffing Levels (SSL) initiative involves rostering a minimum number of staff on every shift.
In regional and rural NSW, 27 emergency departments (EDs) have recruited or are recruiting staff to so they can adopt SSL.
SSL ratios enable the rostering of 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.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) South East Regional Hospital Branch President Di Lang welcomed the initiative.
“That’s probably an extra three staff members every shift,” she told Region.
“It’s a lot more than just having more hands. It’s having more skilled professionals, delivering the support that our patients need. It’s having more nurses there to support you.”
It means hospitals in Wollongong, Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Bega, Shoalhaven, Leeton, Young, Moruya and Shellharbour are now part of the expansion, bringing the number of hospitals involved to more than 40 across the state.
Ms Lang pointed to the South East Regional Hospital, which she said is set to receive 14 FTE staff.
She said the healthcare sector had long been advocating for this approach to patient care before the government made this announcement.
“We do need to celebrate this win [which is] on the back of 10 or 12 years of fighting.
“It’s the nurses and midwives that have done all of this, and the community that’s fighting to get this. … We can celebrate that our EDs are being staffed appropriately, but it’s not the magic bullet – or the magic cure, rather.”
She said nurses were waiting for SSL to be expanded across other areas of the hospital, but also raised her concern about the timeline.
According to NSW Health’s website, SSL is being rolled-out in stages, with Level 5 and Level 6 EDs to switch to the model first. Other hospitals and departments are set to follow.
“Only some areas of health have got safe staffing – that’s emergency departments,” she said.
“The rest of our nurses haven’t got it, so they’re still not treating us fairly and equitably. We will continue to fight as long as it takes to get Safe Staffing roll-outs in all areas of health.
“But I doubt very much we’ll get it this year.”
SSL is flagged for expansion across the rest of NSW hospitals. Photo: Region.
Member for Bega Doctor Michael Holland said his experience had shown how key staffing is in quality healthcare.
“This investment means more nurses on the floor at South East Regional Hospital and Moruya District Hospital supporting both patients and staff.
“After years of pressure on our local health system, it is reassuring to see the Minns Labor Government delivering the reforms we fought for – reforms that will make a real difference to the people of the South East.”
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said SSL would improve patient care and support nurses during their shifts.
“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,” he said.
“This is about building a stronger health system for patients, families, and staff, no matter where you live.”
A spokesperson for Minister Park also confirmed Wollongong ED had recruited the staff needed for SSL ratios.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.
