Tamworth and Armidale hospitals will benefit from additional nurses, with recruitment well underway to deliver on the State Government’s promise to roll out a major healthcare staffing reform.
The New England hospitals are just two out of 27 hospitals across rural and regional NSW part of the introduction of Safe Staffing Levels in emergency departments, with several facilities already completed recruitment. This brings the total number of hospitals commencing the roll-out of Safe Staffing Levels to more than 40 across the state.
“Safe Staffing Levels are about delivering safer, better care for patients, while making sure our nurses have the support they need on every shift,” said Health Minister Ryan Park.
“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.”
The implementation of the reform aims to support the experience of patients, with over 570 FTE nurses already recruited in Emergency Departments across the state.
The Safe Staffing Levels initiative involves rostering minimum staffing levels on every shift, which will result in more nurses employed in hospitals right across the state.
“This is about building a stronger health system for patients, families, and staff, no matter where you live.” said Park.
The staffing boost enables 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.
The 27 regional and rural hospitals rolling out Safe Staffing Levels in EDs include:
- Port Macquarie
- Lismore
- Coffs Harbour
- John Hunter
- Wollongong
- Tamworth
- Gosford
- Wagga Wagga
- Orange
- Tweed Valley
- Dubbo
- Griffith
- Manning
- Maitland
- South East Regional
- Shoalhaven
- Macksville
- Leeton
- Young
- Bathurst
- Ballina
- Grafton
- Armidale
- Cessnock
- Moruya
- Kempsey
- Shellharbour
The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce was established to oversee the rollout of the Government’s commitment of 2,480 FTE over four years. It includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health, and local health districts.
Phase one of Safe Staffing Levels commenced in the level five and six emergency departments, which treat the most critically ill patients, and is being implemented progressively across other key areas in a phased approach.
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