A new working group has been established to plan and drive the implementation of safe staffing levels across the State’s public hospital system.
Announced by Premier Chris Minns, the Safe Staffing Working Group is to begin its work by boosting the number of nurses and midwives in emergency departments (EDs).
“Nurses and midwives have long been calling for workforce reform, even before the emergence of COVID-19,” Mr Minns said.
“However, the pandemic presented a breaking point for nurses, paramedics, hospital cleaners, allied health professionals, security guards and other healthcare heroes,” he said.
“The safe staffing requirement will then be rolled out across other hospital departments (for example, intensive care units and maternity wards) in a staged manner, informed by expert advice from the Safe Staffing Working Group.”
Mr Minns said 1,200 additional nurses and midwives would be recruited within four years.
He said the Working Group would navigate the complexities of the NSW health system, including the diverse workforce needs of facilities, varying patient acuity levels, differences based on time-of-day and specialty type, and nursing workforce planning and supply.
“The changes will be implemented by converting the existing Nursing Hours Per Patient Day staffing requirement into minimum and enforceable Safe Staffing Levels within the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award,” the Premier said.
He said the Working Group brought together representatives from NSW Health and the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association to chart a pathway forward towards implementing the reform.
