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.
Member for South Coast Liza Butler 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 the Shoalhaven.
“This staffing boost is a key measure from the Minns Labor Government in strengthening healthcare at Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital.”
