950 NSW Nurses To Be Recruited In Statewide Rollout Of New Staffing Ratios

The Minns Labour Government is enforcing a new minimum ratio of one nurse to four patients in 70 hospitals across NSW as part of a new staffing reform.

Recruitment has commenced for the additional 950 nurses needed to help meet the 1-4 ratio which will apply during morning and afternoon shifts to more than 360 general and speciality wards statewide. NSW Premier Chris Minns said that this reform will provide “more support on the ward and more time for nurses to care for their patients”.

This change expands on the NSW Government’s historical Safe Staffing Levels reform, which has already recruited 990 nurses across 81 emergency departments in NSW.

“Guaranteeing the number of nurses on every shift is crucial to giving our nurses and midwives the support they need to provide world-class care to patients and relieve pressure on our hospitals,” said Minister for Health Ryan Park.

“Safe staffing levels will result in more nurses and midwives right across NSW,” said Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart, “which will address staff shortages and improve patient care and the overall health system.”

OVER 6,700 NURSES AND MIDWIVES RECUITED BY NSW GOVERNMENT SINCE 2023

This current reform marks the most recent in a series of changes introduced by the Government. According to the Minns Labour Government, since March 2023 they have recruited over 6,700 nurses and midwives, 1,500 doctors, 1,800 allied health workers and 930 ambulance staff to support NSW’s health system.

NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association General Secretary Michael Whaites said that they are, “pleased to see this next stage of the ratio implementation come to fruition, meaning nurse-to-patient ratios will be a reality on medical, surgical and palliative care wards across all 15 Local Health Districts statewide.”

“This reform will be rolling out across metropolitan, regional, and rural hospitals within the A, B, and C categories, ensuring that members and patients across the state will benefit from this reform”, said Whaites.

NSW Health’s Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce are working with the NSW Government to allocate these additional staff across the state.

The NSW Government have also begun planning to introduce Safe Staffing Levels to seven postnatal wards in NSW.

“There is much more to do, but we are putting more people into our hospitals and giving our frontline staff the support they need to care for the people of NSW,” said Minns.