Campbelltown Hospital recently completed a successful recruitment campaign of more than 41 FTE nurses in the Emergency Department (ED), to facilitate the Safe Staffing Level requirements.
The staffing boost will enable 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 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 5 and 6 emergency departments, which treat the most critically ill patients, and is now being implemented progressively across other key areas in a phased approach.
Implementing Safe Staffing Levels is just one of a range of measures that the NSW Government is embracing to build a more supported health workforce, including:
- Funding the equivalent of 1,112 FTE nurse and midwife positions on an ongoing basis;
- Abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers; Recruiting 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.
Member for Campbelltown, Greg Warren said: “This important reform aims to provide better support to our hardworking frontline health staff, and more timely, personalised care to the community here in Campbelltown.”
Member for Camden, Sally Quinnell said: “I’m so happy to see these roll outs that aim to improve access to safe, high-quality care in our community while better supporting our incredible healthcare workers.”