The ACT Government plans to hire more than 90 nurses and midwives across Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, part of a $50 million plan to recruit 400 nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals by 2024.
According to a survey by the ACT Branch of the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation in August, a third of Canberra’s nurses and midwives were psychologically distressed, due to overwork, inadequate staffing, and poor roster management.
In last year’s election, Labor promised to introduce nursing and midwifery ratios across the public health system. Ratios mandate a minimum number of nurses or midwives to ensure the health system is safe and effective for both patients and staff, the government stated.
Rachel Stephen-Smith, Minister for Health, said ratios would guarantee more staff on wards to care for patients and ensure an increased skill mix on each shift, and so reduce staff fatigue and increase job satisfaction for nurses and midwives.
“The safety and wellbeing of nurses and midwives and their patients can’t wait another minute,” the ANMF’s ACT Branch posted on Facebook. “Let’s get ratios implemented!”
The minimum ratio for nurses or midwives to patients will depend on the clinical setting with the first phase of ratios agreed with the ANMF to focus on General Medical, General Surgical, Acute Aged Care, and the Adult Mental Health Unit.
The University of Canberra, the ACT’s principal training school for the professions, also welcomed the announcement.
Every year, the University of Canberra trains 25 midwifery graduates and 150 nursing graduates; more than 95 per cent are employed, said Associate Professor Sally Muggleton, UC’s Head of School – Nursing, Midwifery & Public Health.
“Our nurses and midwives are on the frontline of their local communities working tirelessly to deliver the best possible care,” Professor Muggleton said.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said many local nurses had made significant personal sacrifices to support the city throughout the pandemic, providing thousands of COVID-19 tests and vaccinations over the past few months.
“Our local healthcare workforce has been there when our city needed them most,” he said.
Some UC Midwifery and Nursing students worked with ACT Health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; Professor Muggleton said this might lead to employment once they graduate.
Recruitment for the additional positions will begin later this year.
“Nurses and midwives are the heart and soul of our healthcare system,” Mr Barr said. “More nurses and midwives in our public health system means better quality health care for Canberrans, as well as thousands of people in the Southern NSW region that rely on the ACT healthcare system.”
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