Tamworth Hospital has become the latest NSW facility to implement safe staffing levels as part of the NSW Government’s initiative.
The move comes after a successful recruitment campaign in Tamworth’s Emergency Department, which saw more than 16 full-time equivalent (FTE) nurses brought on board to meet the requirements of the Safe Staffing Levels initiative.
This initiative introduces minimum nurse-to-patient ratios on every shift, designed to ensure more nurses are employed in hospitals across the state. In Tamworth’s ED, the boost means one-to-one nursing care for occupied resuscitation beds, and one nurse for every three occupied treatment spaces and short-stay unit beds, on all shifts.
Tamworth is the second site in the Hunter New England Local Health District to complete both recruitment and roster adjustments under the new rules. Last month, John Hunter Hospital recruited an additional 48 FTE nurses to meet the same requirements.
Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park hailed the rollout as a significant step in healthcare reform.
“The Minns Labor Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to roll out major staffing reform,” he said.
“Safe staffing is the most significant reform in the way our hospitals have been staffed in the state’s history.”
“This will make a massive difference to nurses in the emergency department at Tamworth Hospital and be a major benefit for everyone who require emergency care at the hospital.”
However, the rollout comes in stark contrast to last week’s protests and strike by local doctors. Tamworth Hospital emergency doctor Sarah Jones described the hospital as critically underfunded and understaffed.
Doctors employed by NSW Health are seeking a 30 per cent pay rise over a “reasonable period of time” to bring NSW in line with other states like Queensland and Victoria, which would attract more staff and prevent more staff from moving interstate and decrease the workload that’s leading to burnout, frustration, and poor patient care in NSW hospitals.
The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce — comprising representatives from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health, and local health districts — is overseeing the phased rollout of 2,480 FTE nurses across the state over four years. Phase one is targeting level 5 and 6 emergency departments, which care for the most critically ill patients. It is not known when other critically understaffed hospitals in the New England might get the staff they need.
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