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❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding Registered Nurse FTE, headcount, cost, and vacant positions within the Department of Health and WA Country Health Service across various regions. Reveals significant RN vacancies, particularly in Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance.

AnsweredQoN 2339Legislative Assembly

Asked

31 October 2017

Member

Ms M.J. Davies

Portfolio

Health

QuestionView source ↗

(1) With relation to Registered Nurses employed by the Department of Health or the West Australian Country Health Service, what is the number of full time service equivalent (FTE) positions, the head count and the total cost of service for the following regions: (a) South West; (b) Great Southern; (c) Peel; (d) Wheatbelt; (e) Goldfields-Esperance; (f) Mid West; (g) Gascoyne; (h) Pilbara; and (i) Kimberley? (2) For each of the above regions, can the Minister please provide a list of all vacant registered nurse positions including specific location, and length of time the position has been vacant?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

13 February 2018

Responded by

Minister for Health

Response time

12 days

I am advised that:
(1) Refer to table provided.
Region
Number of FTE* positions (Oct 2017 FTE)
Head count (Oct 2017)
Total cost of service (2016/17 FY)**
(a) South West
632
954
$74,607,512
(b) Great Southern
336
488
$40,524,623
(c) Peel***
20.96 (MDH****)
28
$1,074,587
(d) Wheatbelt
344
451
$41,817,693
(e) Goldfields-Esperance
279
334
$35,654,626
(f) Mid West
355
442
$42,011,969
(g) Gascoyne*****
(h) Pilbara
242
290
$33,615,660
(i) Kimberley
379
448
$50,261,128
*Based on MTD FTE as at October 2017 pay month
**Total cost of service has been sourced from payroll data for 2016/17 Financial Year
***Not within WACHS boundary
**** Murray District Hospital (MDH)
*****Combined under WACHS Midwest Region
(2) Refer to table provided.
Region
Vacant Positions
Specific Location
Length of time position has been vacant (Estimate in Weeks)
(a) South West
Clinical Nurse
Busselton
12*
Registered Nurse
Busselton
16*
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Busselton
12
Nurse Practitioner
Busselton
12
Registered Nurse
Augusta
12
Clinical Nurse
Augusta
12
Registered Nurse
Margaret River
32*
Nurse Practitioner
Margaret River
12
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Vasse
4*
Registered Nurse
Vasse
12
Registered Nurse
Harvey
11
Clinical Nurse
Harvey
12
Registered Nurse
Warren
8
Registered Nurse
Boyup Brook
52
Registered Nurse
Pemberton
12
Registered Nurse
Bridgetown
11*
Clinical Nurse
Donnybrook
12
Nurse Practitioner
Warren
12
Clinical Nurse
Bunbury
22*
Staff Development Nurse
Bunbury
5
Registered Nurse
Bunbury
12*
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Bunbury
24*
Nurse Manager
Bunbury
6
(b) Great Southern
Clinical Nurse
Denmark
6
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Tambellup
4
Clinical Nurse Theatre
Albany
6
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Albany
20*
Nurse Manager Workforce
Albany
18
Clinical Nurse Medical / Children
Albany
18
Clinical Nurse Infection Control
Albany
17
Staff Development Nurse
Katanning
16
Clinical Nurse Manager-Inpatient
Mt Barker
5
(c) Peel**
Clinical Nurse
Pinjarra (Murray District Hospital)
72
Registered Nurse
Pinjarra (Murray District Hospital)
24
Registered Nurse
Pinjarra (Murray District Hospital)
24
Registered Nurse
Pinjarra (Murray District Hospital)
24
(d) Wheatbelt
Clinical Nurse
Beverley
32
Clinical Nurse
Boddington
52
Registered Nurse
Boddington
52
Registered Nurse
Bruce Rock
45
Registered Nurse
Corrigin
44
Clinical Nurse
Cunderdin
56
Registered Nurse
Cunderdin
104
Registered Nurse
Dumbleyung
104
Registered Nurse
Goomalling
70
Clinical Nurse
Kellerberrin
8
Registered Nurse
Kellerberrin
44
Registered Nurse
Kondinin
78
Health Service Manager
Merredin
30
Clinical Nurse Manager
Merredin
20
Clinical Nurse
Moora
20
Registered Nurse
Moora
52*
Registered Nurse
Narembeen
52*
Clinical Nurse Manager – Ward
Narrogin
26
Nurse Practitioner ED
Narrogin
18
Clinical Nurse Aged Care
Narrogin
14
Registered Nurse
Northam
44*
Clinical Nurse
Northam
52*
Nurse Practitioner ED
Northam
18
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Northam
52
Clinical Nurse (Avon & Central Primary Health)
Northam
20
Registered Nurse (Avon & Central Primary Health)
Northam
52
Clinical Nurse
Pingelly
104
Registered Nurse
Pingelly
104*
Registered Nurse
Southern Cross
104*
Clinical Nurse
Wagin
104
Registered Nurse
Wagin
104
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Williams
12
Registered Nurse
Wyalkatchem
52
Health Service Manager
Wyalkatchem
44
Registered Nurse
York
34*
(e) Goldfields-Esperance
Clinical Nurse Manager
Kalgoorlie Population Health
117
Clinical Nurse
Laverton
54
Director of Nursing
Laverton
84
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Coonana Health Centre
110
Clinical Nurse Manager
Esperance Hospital
4
Registered Nurse – Graduate
Kalgoorlie Population Health
119
Nurse Practitioner
Esperance Hospital
10
Clinical Nurse
Kalgoorlie Population Health
12
Nurse Educator
Kalgoorlie Population Health
70
Clinical Nurse Community
Kalgoorlie Mental Health
2
Clinical Nurse
Esperance Hospital
Information not available
Registered Nurse
Kalgoorlie Community Health
Information not available
Registered Nurse
Esperance Community Health
Information not available
Clinical Nurse
Kalgoorlie Community Health
Information not available
(f) Mid West
Registered Nurse
Mental Health Geraldton
52*
Registered Nurse
Kalbarri
52*
Clinical Nurse
Kalbarri
52*
Registered Nurse
Dongara
26*
Clinical Nurse
Dongara
26
Registered Nurse
Mullewa
Information not available
Clinical Nurse
Mullewa
Information not available
Registered Nurse
Morawa
52*
Clinical Nurse
Morawa
52*
Registered Nurse
Three Springs
52*
Clinical Nurse
Three Springs
52
Clinical Nurse Manager
Morawa
52
Registered Nurse
Murchison (Mt Magnet/Meekatharra)
Information not available
Clinical Nurse
Murchison (Mt Magnet/Meekatharra)
Information not available
Registered Nurse
Geraldton Pop Health
52*
Clinical Nurse
Geraldton Pop Health
52*
Registered Nurse
Geraldton Hospital (including Ambulatory)
52*
Clinical Nurse
Geraldton Hospital (including Ambulatory)
52*
Registered Nurse
Mental Health
52
Registered Nurse
Carnarvon
52*
Clinical Nurse
Carnarvon
52*
Clinical Nurse Manager
Carnarvon
26*
26*
26*
Coordinator of Nursing and Midwifery (SRN7)
Carnarvon
26*
(g) Gascoyne***
(h) Pilbara
Clinical Nurse
Hedland Regional Resource Centre
62*
Registered Nurse - Graduate
Hedland Regional Resource Centre
11*
Registered Nurse
Hedland Regional Resource Centre
52*
Clinical Nurse Manager-Inpatient
Hedland Regional Resource Centre
52
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Hedland Regional Resource Centre
52
Clinical Nurse Manager - After Hours
Nickol Bay Integrated District Health Service
9
Registered Nurse
Nickol Bay Integrated District Health Service
6*
Clinical Nurse
Nickol Bay Integrated District Health Service
48*
Clinical Nurse Manager – ED
Nickol Bay Integrated District Health Service
65
Clinical Nurse Manager - Community Health
Nickol Bay Integrated District Health Service
13
Clinical Nurse
Population Health Pilbara
104*
(i) Kimberley
Community Health Nurse
Population Health - Wyndham
56
Sexual Health Nurse
Population Health - Fitzroy Crossing
4
Diabetes Education Nurse
Population Health - Fitzroy Crossing
32
Nurse Generalist Position
Population Health - Fitzroy Crossing
2
Registered Nurse
Derby Hospital Theatre
26
Registered Nurse
Derby Hospital Emergency Dept.
20
Registered Nurse
Fitzroy Crossing Hospital
28*
Clinical Nurse Manager
Kununurra Hospital
52
Registered Nurse General Ward
Kununurra Hospital
4
Registered Nurse
Wyndham Hospital
26
Clinical Nurse
Wyndham Hospital
52
Registered Nurse
Halls Creek Hospital
104
*Indicates positions with multiple vacancies where a position can have more than one employee held against it. As such, the specified length of time the position has been vacant (i.e. not filled by permanent or fixed term staff) relates to the longest unfilled vacancy.
**Not within WACHS boundary
***Combined under WACHS Midwest Region
It has not always been possible to fill these vacancies through conventional recruitment practices. The shortfall in resourcing caused by vacancies is managed with a range of measures including the use of agency staff (who are not direct employees of the Department of Health or WA Country Health Service) and casual staff and also by the creation of a Central Office administered pool for Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Managers, Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses and Midwives.

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