- North Metropolitan Health Service the latest health service to roll out nurse and midwife to patient ratios
- Ratios apply in medical and surgical wards at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Osborne Park Hospital
- Part of Cook Labor Government’s commitment to improving nurse and midwife workloads across WA
Nurse and midwife to patient staffing ratios have started at two Perth hospitals, as part of a Cook Labor Government commitment to this staffing model.
Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park hospitals will benefit from ratios in the medical and surgical wards.
This follows the successful roll-out of ratios at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) emergency department.
The North Metropolitan Health Service ratios for medical and surgical wards are, at minimum, one nurse to every four patients during the day and one nurse to every seven patients at night.
This is a significant milestone as part of the Cook Government’s commitment to replace nursing hours per patient day by introducing nurse and midwife to patient ratios in all Western Australian hospitals.
The Cook Government has grown WA’s healthcare workforce by 30 per cent since 2017, adding 4,000 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) nurses and 1,800 FTE doctors.
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“I am pleased to see our significant ratios roll-out gather pace with its introduction at general medical and surgical wards at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Osborne Park Hospital.
“This model will deliver improved workloads, greater transparency on staffing levels, improved staff retention and satisfaction, and workforce sustainability.
“Research has shown that the ratio of nurses and midwives relative to the number of patients is an important factor when considering patients’ experience and outcomes.”
