Jul 02, 2018

Could staff ratios become law after the coming election?

At the NSW Labor State Conference on the weekend, NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley said his party would support the introduction of nursing staff ratios if it wins the state election next year.

With voters due to head to the ballot box next March, the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association welcomed the news.

General Secretary of the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association, Brett Holmes, said nurses and midwives have campaigned for ratios for several years.

“By committing to support ratios, the NSW Labor Party has shown nurses, midwives and aged care workers the respect they deserve,” Mr Holmes said.

“The NSW Labor Party’s support of ratios will help to put pressure on the State Government which has neglected the issue for too long.

“Disgracefully, the State Government has ignored the need for better, more transparent ratios for seven years.

“By backing ratios today, NSW Labor has recognised the vital role nurses, midwives and aged care workers play in the delivery of safe patient care,” he said.

“Nurses and midwives are angry at this State Government’s inaction and they’ve hit a breaking point. How much longer do nurses have to wait before their pleas are listened to?

The NSWNMU says independent international research shows increased nursing care leads to better health outcomes for patients.

“We cannot reiterate the importance of nurse-to-patient ratios enough,” said Mr Homes.

“We continue to call on the State Liberal-National Government to consult with the NSWNMA to secure safe patient care through improved and expanded nurse-to-patient ratios,” he said.

“Guaranteeing patient safety is too important to ignore and we will continue campaigning for safer staffing levels.”

A number of union members, including nurse Thomas Hoffman and Gerard Hayes, spoke about the importance of staff ratios, particularly in aged care.

Mr Foley also said he will reinstate the M4 cashback scheme for Western Sydney motorists.

Labor Party Leader Bill Shorten announced at the conference that he would bring back penalty rates and reverse funding cuts to the ABC if elected to government at the next Federal election.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Bupa Eden won’t refund deposits when accreditation is revoked

  When Bupa Eden’s accreditation is revoked on 16 August, the organisation plans to continue caring for residents.  But with its accreditation revoked, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission no longer has the authority to assess the facility against the quality standards, so the Department of Health has told HelloCare it will step in... Read More

Federal government changes vaccination advice in rush to protect Victorian aged care sector

In the wake of the latest lockdown, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has changed the medical advice as the government rushes to vaccinate those Victorian aged care residents and workers who remained unprotected. Read More

Curating the perfect intergenerational program for your clients

The annual Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) National Conference for 2023 kicked off on Wednesday in Adelaide where all topics about aged care and ageing are on the table – including the importance of intergenerational learning (IGL) and well-being programs.  Read More
Advertisement