Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) is to lead the State in the introduction of nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios.
Starting with the emergency department, a committee of nurses and executives is to be established to spearhead its introduction, with a view to having nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios fully implemented as soon as possible.
The moves follow an announcement by the Department of Health last year that the ratios would eventually be introduced at all the State’s hospitals.
In a statement, the Department said a key focus of the implementation would be ensuring nursing staff at the PCH emergency department had the right mix of experience and skills.
“We are implementing measures to upskill staff in speciality paediatrics,” the Department said.
“These include an intensive six-week transition-to-paediatrics program; family friendly (short) shifts; more frequent training to allow nurses to upskill, and the employment of a nurse educator to do one-on-one training with individual staff.”
Nurses will also be offered extra hours on top of their contracted hours to upskill and specialise in emergency department paediatrics.
“These measures are being supported by a local and interstate advertising campaign to let nurses know there’s a great job waiting for them at the PCH,” the Department said.
Minister for Health, Amber-Jade Sanderson said conditions for nurses and midwives would be greatly improved through the introduction of ratios — “and ensuring the emergency department at Perth Children’s Hospital is the first to do this is a priority”.
