❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses staffing shortages at Geraldton Hospital's emergency department in December 2021 and January 2022. The Minister's response outlines strategies to address workforce shortages exacerbated by the pandemic.
AnsweredQoN 555Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to reports from ABC Mid-West and Wheatbelt on 18 January 2021 regarding significant staffing shortages at Geraldton hospital's emergency department, and I ask: (a) for the month of December 2021, on how many days was the emergency department roster able to be filled; (b) for the month of January 2022, on how many days was the emergency department roster able to be filled; (c) is the Minister aware of any specific issues impacting recruitment at
Geraldton Health Campus and, if so, please outline these issues; (d) what specific measures is the State Government undertaking to address staff shortages at Geraldton Health Campus; and (e) please table any correspondence from the WA Country Health Service in relation to staffing shortages at Geraldton Health Campus?
Geraldton Health Campus and, if so, please outline these issues; (d) what specific measures is the State Government undertaking to address staff shortages at Geraldton Health Campus; and (e) please table any correspondence from the WA Country Health Service in relation to staffing shortages at Geraldton Health Campus?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 April 2022
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Response time
11 days
(a) - (b) The following table provides details of nursing and medical rosters that were filled between 90-100%, over the traditionally difficult to staff Christmas period.
December 2021
January 2022
Medical
22 days
23 days
Nursing
18 days
23 days
(c) - (d) Like most hospitals and health services, we’re working in the context of state, national and international workforce shortages that have been exacerbated by border restrictions and the ongoing demands of a global pandemic. Several strategies are being employed to ensure additional staff are able to be deployed to regional areas:
· Established an Operations Hub with daily oversight of workforce shortages across country WA
· Enacted the State Business Continuity Leadership Team to provide system wide oversight of regional workforce challenges
· Deployment of staff from other WACHS sites and metropolitan Health Service Providers
· Priority deployment of nursing staff by NurseWest
· Promotional social media recruitment campaign
· Direct engagement with recruitment agencies
· Engagement with local government
· Incentive payments for staff deployed to priority sites
(e) Not applicable.
December 2021
January 2022
Medical
22 days
23 days
Nursing
18 days
23 days
(c) - (d) Like most hospitals and health services, we’re working in the context of state, national and international workforce shortages that have been exacerbated by border restrictions and the ongoing demands of a global pandemic. Several strategies are being employed to ensure additional staff are able to be deployed to regional areas:
· Established an Operations Hub with daily oversight of workforce shortages across country WA
· Enacted the State Business Continuity Leadership Team to provide system wide oversight of regional workforce challenges
· Deployment of staff from other WACHS sites and metropolitan Health Service Providers
· Priority deployment of nursing staff by NurseWest
· Promotional social media recruitment campaign
· Direct engagement with recruitment agencies
· Engagement with local government
· Incentive payments for staff deployed to priority sites
(e) Not applicable.
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