Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital and Shellharbour Hospital will be boosting the number of nurses in their emergency departments to meet Safe Staffing Levels, as the Minns Labor Government continues to fulfil its commitment to deliver staffing reform.

Recruitment is underway as part of the Safe Staffing ratios rollout at Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital, which will see more than 28 FTE nurses added to the emergency department.

Recruitment to over 15 FTE nurses for Shellharbour Hospital emergency department has also commenced.

Shoalhaven and Shellharbour now join more than 40 EDs to commence implementation of Safe Staffing Levels across Sydney and regional NSW.

The staffing boost will enable 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 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 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.

Implementing Safe Staffing Levels is just one of a range of measures 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
  
  
• 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park said,

“Safe Staffing Levels is one of the most significant reforms in the way our hospitals have been staffed in decades.

“This is about delivering safer, better care for patients, while making sure our nurses have the support, they need on every shift.

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering the health investments our communities need and deserve after more than a decade of inaction from the former Liberal government.”

Labor candidate for Kiama Katelin McInerney said, 

“I am thrilled both Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital and Shellharbour Hospital are on track to introduce Safe Staffing ratios for nurses in the Emergency Department.

“This major reform from the Minns Labor Government will support the delivery of care to patients and support our hardworking frontline health staff.

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering more nurses for the people of Kiama."