New guaranteed ratios system will be delivered under NSW Labor

NSW Opposition Leader, Luke Foley made this promise to nurses and midwives from across the state during the final day of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association’s (NSWNMA) 73rd Annual Conference today. “I commit a future Labor government to introducing shift-by-shift nurse to patient ratios,” Mr Foley said. “We need shift by shift nurse to […]

NSW Health Minister acknowledges need for more nurses and midwives

NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, spoke frankly with nurses and midwives at the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) annual conference today, recognising the role and responsibility of the Ministry to make sure local health districts are acting responsibly when it comes to safe staffing. “I want to continue having discussions about how we get […]

Nurses and midwives unite for safer staffing

The Global Nurses United (GNU) annual conference was held in Australia for the first time this year, with nurses and midwives from across the world gathering to discuss significant issues facing the health industry. Safe nurse-to-patient ratios dominated the agenda of the two-day conference at the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA), with countries such […]

Unsafe ratios force bed closures in Hornsby mental health unit

Consistent understaffing and poor skill mix issues at the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Hospital Mental Health Intensive Care Unit (MHICU) is putting staff and patient safety at risk, leaving nursing staff no option but to start closing three beds from 3pm today. Over the last year, the unit has had significant vacancies combined with a poor skill […]

Nurses express shock over bed cuts at St Vincent’s

Around one hundred nursing staff gathered outside Sydney’s iconic St Vincent’s Hospital this afternoon and expressed their dismay over the widespread closure of beds and services at the Darlinghurst facility. From today, more than 160 beds across 10 wards and units have been shutdown for at least the next six weeks at St Vincent’s Hospital, […]

Short-staffing woes hurting at South East Regional Hospital

Members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) are calling on Southern NSW Local Health District to urgently address nursing staff shortages at Bega’s South East Regional Hospital, ahead of the busy summer holiday season. South East Regional Hospital Branch of the NSWNMA wrote to hospital management and expressed their concern over the rising […]

Community support builds in Gunnedah for ratios

A passionate group of local nurses and residents will take to the streets tomorrow (Thursday), as part of a campaign for improved patient safety at Gunnedah District Hospital. In recent weeks, members of Gunnedah District Hospital Branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) have been calling on the state government to deliver nurse […]

Expansion of nurse to patient ratios overdue in NSW

Nurses and midwives have urged the NSW Government to improve the delivery of safe patient care across all public hospital settings and bring our state into line with Queensland and Victoria. Last night, hundreds of NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) delegates passed a unanimous resolution calling on the government to deliver an expansion of […]

Nurses exhausted

In view of ongoing concerns in respect of staffing and workload, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) ACT branch recently wrote to the major parties and asked if they would commit to legislation for safe staffing levels if elected. “The ANMF is extremely concerned that the Canberra Hospital is not effectively managing a shortage […]

Queensland makes ratios law

Queensland lives will be saved after a historic health initiative successfully passed Parliament tonight. Queensland Nurses’ Union (QNU) said the Hospital and Health Boards (Safe Nurse-To-Patient and Midwife-To-Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2015 would now make it mandatory for public hospitals to provide safe nurse and midwife to patient ratios. Ratios will be phased in throughout […]

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