The Health Directorate is to recruit more than 90 additional nurses and midwives to bolster the Territory’s health services workforce.
Announced by Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, the upcoming ACT Budget is to include a commitment of $50.1 million over four years to recruit additional nurses and midwives across Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce.
“Our local healthcare workforce has been there when our City needed them most,” Mr Barr said.
“Many have made significant personal sacrifices to support our City throughout the pandemic – providing thousands of COVID-19 tests and vaccinations over the past few months,” he said.
Mr Barr said the funding allocation marked the first phase of nursing and midwifery ratios across the Territory’s public health system.
The Chief Minister said ratios mandated a minimum number of nurses or midwives to ensure the health system supported a safe and effective environment for both patients and the workforce.
Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said the implementation of ratios guaranteed that there would be more staff on the ward and ensured an increased skill mix on each shift to provide the best possible care for patients.
Mr Barr said the minimum ratio for nurses or midwives to patients would depend on the clinical setting, with the first phase of ratios to focus on General Medical, General Surgical, Acute Aged Care and the Adult Mental Health Unit.
He said recruitment for the additional positions would begin later this year.
