❓ Mr. Love questions the Health Minister about healthcare worker shortages in the Midwest, specifically regarding unsupervised junior nurses and staffing levels at Geraldton Health Campus. The Minister acknowledges workforce constraints but doesn't confirm the specific shortage number, highlighting opportunities in regional healthcare.
AnsweredQoN 673Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE — MIDWEST
673. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to reports of health
services' worker shortages across the state, particularly in the
midwest area.
(1) Does the
minister consider it good practice to make junior nursing staff work in
emergency departments unsupervised?
(2) Can the
minister confirm whether Geraldton Health Campus is currently 40 full-time
employees short?
673. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to reports of health
services' worker shortages across the state, particularly in the
midwest area.
(1) Does the
minister consider it good practice to make junior nursing staff work in
emergency departments unsupervised?
(2) Can the
minister confirm whether Geraldton Health Campus is currently 40 full-time
employees short?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) No, I cannot confirm that Geraldton Health Campus
is short 40 nurses. I can confirm that we have a highly constrained nursing and midwifery workforce right
across the system. Traditionally, for regrettable reasons, when we have
a shortage of nurses and midwives in the metropolitan area, that situation
tends to be compounded in regional and remote areas as well. I did see the
article in which the Australian Nursing Federation made these allegations; I am
seeking to establish them. But I would just say that the great opportunity
provided by working in a rural or regional setting for a lot of young medical
professionals is that they get to practise
at scope; that is, they do get to take on opportunities and responsibilities
that perhaps would not be provided to
someone in a larger metropolitan hospital. From my time as a younger man, I went to work in Geraldton because of the opportunities that were there. I concur
with the member for Geraldton that it is a great place to live and there are
some great opportunities for young people who want to extend themselves
professionally and take the opportunities offered. I encourage all nurses and
doctors who are looking for opportunities to practise in the largest health
jurisdiction in the world, to get one of the most unique career experiences anywhere in the world, to practise with the WA
Country Health Service. Indeed , the director general was recruited from
the United Kingdom and practised at the Port Hedland hospital for many years.
It is a great experience. We will obviously make sure that any nurse graduates
or nurses who are looking for opportunities to practise across this great
health jurisdiction have the opportunity to practise in rural and regional
health as well.
is short 40 nurses. I can confirm that we have a highly constrained nursing and midwifery workforce right
across the system. Traditionally, for regrettable reasons, when we have
a shortage of nurses and midwives in the metropolitan area, that situation
tends to be compounded in regional and remote areas as well. I did see the
article in which the Australian Nursing Federation made these allegations; I am
seeking to establish them. But I would just say that the great opportunity
provided by working in a rural or regional setting for a lot of young medical
professionals is that they get to practise
at scope; that is, they do get to take on opportunities and responsibilities
that perhaps would not be provided to
someone in a larger metropolitan hospital. From my time as a younger man, I went to work in Geraldton because of the opportunities that were there. I concur
with the member for Geraldton that it is a great place to live and there are
some great opportunities for young people who want to extend themselves
professionally and take the opportunities offered. I encourage all nurses and
doctors who are looking for opportunities to practise in the largest health
jurisdiction in the world, to get one of the most unique career experiences anywhere in the world, to practise with the WA
Country Health Service. Indeed , the director general was recruited from
the United Kingdom and practised at the Port Hedland hospital for many years.
It is a great experience. We will obviously make sure that any nurse graduates
or nurses who are looking for opportunities to practise across this great
health jurisdiction have the opportunity to practise in rural and regional
health as well.
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