Canberra Liberals MLA Leanne Castley, Shadow Health Minister, will today call the ACT Government to account for what she considers its failure to deliver the work conditions and environment necessary to attract and retain sufficient public healthcare staff.
Her motion in the ACT Assembly also asks the government to report on the progress of all budgetary measures, Governing Agreement and election commitments for the Health and Wellbeing portfolio.
“The Labor-Greens Government has failed to implement phase 1 of Nurse-to-Patient ratios by its own deadline of June 1, 2022,” Ms Castley said. “Nurse-to-Patient ratios are still not compliant across both public hospitals.
“In 2021, the government had still not met recommendations from as early as 2002 to increase Nurse Practitioners’ scope of practice.
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“The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) recently described any improvement in Canberra Health Services’ workplace culture as minute.
“The Medical Training Survey 2022 showed trainee doctors rated the ACT the lowest of all jurisdictions on every top-level measure of their workplaces.
“Canberra Health Service has had a 27 per cent increase between 2018-19 and 2021-22 in Work, Health and Safety (WHS) incidents despite having its 2018-2022 WHS strategy in place.”
Ms Castley said that, whether it was capital works, waiting lists, or workplace improvements, the ACT Government over-promised and under-delivered.
“Is it any wonder that fewer ANU Medical graduates are accepting offers from Canberra Health Services and [fewer] students are choosing to study nursing and midwifery at the University of Canberra?”
Ms Castley said the ANMF had called for a health workforce strategy for six or seven, yet a “holistic and robust” strategy had still not been delivered because data was insufficient for health planners to have a clear understanding of the current workforce.
“Now, the Government’s takeover of Calvary Public Hospital is causing further disruption, with many staff not expected to transition to CHS, putting more pressure on already overstretched front line staff and clinical services.”
