❓ Hon Tim Clifford questions the implementation and oversight of nurse-to-patient ratios in WA hospitals, particularly in regional areas. The government response outlines measures for policy governance, monitoring, and phased implementation, including a taskforce and steering committees.
AnsweredQoN 976Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Western Australia’s patient to staff ratios have been made into a policy (1:4 day, 1:7 night) but not legislated, although the Health Act defines policies as compulsory. Ratios have not been rolled out in every hospital, and in regional hospitals they don’t seem to have been rolled out at all. With this in mind, I ask: (a) what measures are in place to prevent the policies regarding ratios from changing without proper oversight; (b) who is monitoring staff ratios; (c) what does the reporting structure look like; and (d) what measures are in place to achieve healthy ratios in regional centres?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health; Mental Health
Response time
7 days
The Cook Government is committed to introducing nurse and midwife to patient ratios at all WA Health hospitals and has formed the Ratios Taskforce, which includes representatives from the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF), to oversee the rollout. This is significant investment in our commitment to not only boost staff in hospitals, but to improve working conditions for our health workforce.
(a) - (d)
The Department of Health’s Mandatory Policy Governance Procedure outlines the process by which mandatory policies are amended. The robust policy governance process reports to the ratios Taskforce, which includes United Workers Union and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation WA representation. Policy consultation with Health Service Providers and the WA Health Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Council ensures broader oversight.
Each Health Service Provider has established distinct Steering Committees, including union representation, to ensure transparency and monitoring of ratios implementation.
At a Health Service Provider level, wards report to their respective Steering Committee, with compliance reporting sent to the Department.
Nurse/Midwife to Patient Ratios is being implemented in a phased approach. Extensive consultation and analysis are planned with the WA Country Health Service, with oversight from the Taskforce to implement agreed ratios.
(a) - (d)
The Department of Health’s Mandatory Policy Governance Procedure outlines the process by which mandatory policies are amended. The robust policy governance process reports to the ratios Taskforce, which includes United Workers Union and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation WA representation. Policy consultation with Health Service Providers and the WA Health Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Council ensures broader oversight.
Each Health Service Provider has established distinct Steering Committees, including union representation, to ensure transparency and monitoring of ratios implementation.
At a Health Service Provider level, wards report to their respective Steering Committee, with compliance reporting sent to the Department.
Nurse/Midwife to Patient Ratios is being implemented in a phased approach. Extensive consultation and analysis are planned with the WA Country Health Service, with oversight from the Taskforce to implement agreed ratios.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.