❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding unfilled nursing vacancies in metropolitan hospitals, their duration, actions to fill them, and the use of agency nurses. The responses reveal varying vacancy levels and strategies across different health services.
AnsweredQoN 3040Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many unfilled vacancies currently exist at each metropolitan hospital for:
(a) registered nurses; and
(b) enrolled nurses?
(2) How long has each vacancy existed?
(3) What action is being taken to fill these positions?
(4) Are any of these vacancies being back-filled by agency or contract nurses; and
(a) if so, what company is providing these nurses; and
(b) if so, how many agency or contract nurses are currently filling vacancies at each hospital?
(a) registered nurses; and
(b) enrolled nurses?
(2) How long has each vacancy existed?
(3) What action is being taken to fill these positions?
(4) Are any of these vacancies being back-filled by agency or contract nurses; and
(a) if so, what company is providing these nurses; and
(b) if so, how many agency or contract nurses are currently filling vacancies at each hospital?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
33 days
Child and Adolescent Health Service
Princess Margaret Hospital
(1)(a) 12.40 FTE
(b) Nil.
(2) 3.12 FTE 1 month.
1.30 FTE 2 months.
7.98 FTE 3 months.
(3) 2.51 FTE Recruitment Selection and Appointment process in progress.
9.89 FTE Recruitment Selection and Appointment process commenced May 2010.
(4) None.
(a - b) Not applicable
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
(1) The North Metropolitan Area Health Service (NMAHS) is unable to separate information available from (a) registered nurses; and (b) enrolled nurses. Figures are as at 10 April 2010:
King Edward Memorial Hospital: 5 FTE
Osborne Park Hospital: Nil.
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital: 8 FTE
Swan Kalamunda Health Service: 3 FTE
Total for NMAHS: 16 FTE
(2) From less than one month to over twelve months. There is a longer timeline in filling vacancies in some areas of specialist nursing such as in the Older Adult Mental Health Program or for Neonates.
(3) Ongoing recruitment, international recruitment through the Department of Health, increasing graduate numbers in programs and focus on retention of current staff.
(4) Yes.
(a) Casual staff as well as the following agencies are used: Drake; Nurse West; Hendercare; ACES; Mediserve; ACEPS; Randstad; Choice One; and West Australian Nurses Agency.
(b) King Edward Memorial Hospital: Casual staff 58.96 FTE, Agency staff 8.23 FTE
Osborne Park Hospital: Casual staff 11 FTE, Agency staff 3.3 FTE
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital: Agency staff 15 FTE
Swan Kalamunda Health Service: Agency staff 7 FTE
Area Mental Health Services: Each health service employs their own contract casual nurses to fill vacancies and gaps in the roster (ie due to sick leave). The number varies between health services.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service
Armadale Health Service
(1)(a) Total 2 FTE.
(b) Nil.
(2) 4 months.
(3) Vacancies filled by casual and agency staff and regular advertising is done to fill these vacancies.
(4) Yes.
(a) NurseWest (for Theatre staff only).
(b) On average 2 FTE per month.
Bentley Health Service
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) Nil.
(2-4a) Not applicable.
Fremantle Hospital
(1)(a) 16 FTE at the end of April 2010.
(b) Nil.
(2) Vacancies exist for up to eight weeks.
(3) By advertisement when specific skills and experience required such as critical care and midwifery otherwise by placement of completing graduate program nurses into positions.
(4) No. Agency and contract nurses are used to fill only unplanned leave and absenteeism.
(a) Not applicable. Any agency nursing is arranged through NurseWest.
(b) Not applicable.
Rockingham Peel Group (includes Rockingham Hospital)
(1)(a) 12 FTE.
(b) 1.16 FTE.
(2) Varies - activity driven longest is three months.
(3) Actively recruiting via advertising; offering higher / alternative duties for existing staff.
(4) No.
(a - b) Not applicable.
Royal Perth Hospital
(1) As at May 2010 Royal Perth Group (RPG) had a total vacancy of 10 FTE. In addition a shift shortfall of 5.8 FTE was recorded. This comprises both Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses employed by RPG.
(2) Vacancies and shift shortfalls are backfilled with increased hours ,casual, overtime and agency staff where required.
(3) Vacant positions are advertised and recruited.
(4) Yes.
(a) Nurse West.
(b) This is assessed on a shift basis by evaluated clinical workload and staff leave.
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Princess Margaret Hospital
(1)(a) 12.40 FTE
(b) Nil.
(2) 3.12 FTE 1 month.
1.30 FTE 2 months.
7.98 FTE 3 months.
(3) 2.51 FTE Recruitment Selection and Appointment process in progress.
9.89 FTE Recruitment Selection and Appointment process commenced May 2010.
(4) None.
(a - b) Not applicable
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
(1) The North Metropolitan Area Health Service (NMAHS) is unable to separate information available from (a) registered nurses; and (b) enrolled nurses. Figures are as at 10 April 2010:
King Edward Memorial Hospital: 5 FTE
Osborne Park Hospital: Nil.
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital: 8 FTE
Swan Kalamunda Health Service: 3 FTE
Total for NMAHS: 16 FTE
(2) From less than one month to over twelve months. There is a longer timeline in filling vacancies in some areas of specialist nursing such as in the Older Adult Mental Health Program or for Neonates.
(3) Ongoing recruitment, international recruitment through the Department of Health, increasing graduate numbers in programs and focus on retention of current staff.
(4) Yes.
(a) Casual staff as well as the following agencies are used: Drake; Nurse West; Hendercare; ACES; Mediserve; ACEPS; Randstad; Choice One; and West Australian Nurses Agency.
(b) King Edward Memorial Hospital: Casual staff 58.96 FTE, Agency staff 8.23 FTE
Osborne Park Hospital: Casual staff 11 FTE, Agency staff 3.3 FTE
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital: Agency staff 15 FTE
Swan Kalamunda Health Service: Agency staff 7 FTE
Area Mental Health Services: Each health service employs their own contract casual nurses to fill vacancies and gaps in the roster (ie due to sick leave). The number varies between health services.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service
Armadale Health Service
(1)(a) Total 2 FTE.
(b) Nil.
(2) 4 months.
(3) Vacancies filled by casual and agency staff and regular advertising is done to fill these vacancies.
(4) Yes.
(a) NurseWest (for Theatre staff only).
(b) On average 2 FTE per month.
Bentley Health Service
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) Nil.
(2-4a) Not applicable.
Fremantle Hospital
(1)(a) 16 FTE at the end of April 2010.
(b) Nil.
(2) Vacancies exist for up to eight weeks.
(3) By advertisement when specific skills and experience required such as critical care and midwifery otherwise by placement of completing graduate program nurses into positions.
(4) No. Agency and contract nurses are used to fill only unplanned leave and absenteeism.
(a) Not applicable. Any agency nursing is arranged through NurseWest.
(b) Not applicable.
Rockingham Peel Group (includes Rockingham Hospital)
(1)(a) 12 FTE.
(b) 1.16 FTE.
(2) Varies - activity driven longest is three months.
(3) Actively recruiting via advertising; offering higher / alternative duties for existing staff.
(4) No.
(a - b) Not applicable.
Royal Perth Hospital
(1) As at May 2010 Royal Perth Group (RPG) had a total vacancy of 10 FTE. In addition a shift shortfall of 5.8 FTE was recorded. This comprises both Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses employed by RPG.
(2) Vacancies and shift shortfalls are backfilled with increased hours ,casual, overtime and agency staff where required.
(3) Vacant positions are advertised and recruited.
(4) Yes.
(a) Nurse West.
(b) This is assessed on a shift basis by evaluated clinical workload and staff leave.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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