❓ Hon Tom Stephens questions the Minister for Health regarding high nursing staff turnover, funding allocation, and inadequate staff accommodation in Halls Creek. The Minister responds, addressing concerns and outlining ongoing efforts to improve the situation.
AnsweredQoN 855Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
855. Hon Tom Stephens to the Attorney General representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to representations that you have received from long-time Halls Creek resident Susan McGlasson, and ask -
(1) Can the Minister for Health confirm that in the Kimberley around 15 Directors of Nursing have left from five hospitals in the past three years, and there is a turnover of around 300 percent in nursing staff?
(2) Is it correct that up to $162 240 of much needed health funding has been diverted into flying in short-term agency personnel rather than on attracting permanent hospital staff?
(3) What steps are you currently taking to attract permanent hospital staff?
(4) Is the Minister aware that the accommodation the Government is providing to new nursing staff in Halls Creek has no mattresses, no window coverings, broken security screens and doors without locks?
(5) What funding will you immediately provide to ensure nursing staff facilities are improved so that they are not left vulnerable and unable to secure their accommodation?
I refer to representations that you have received from long-time Halls Creek resident Susan McGlasson, and ask -
(1) Can the Minister for Health confirm that in the Kimberley around 15 Directors of Nursing have left from five hospitals in the past three years, and there is a turnover of around 300 percent in nursing staff?
(2) Is it correct that up to $162 240 of much needed health funding has been diverted into flying in short-term agency personnel rather than on attracting permanent hospital staff?
(3) What steps are you currently taking to attract permanent hospital staff?
(4) Is the Minister aware that the accommodation the Government is providing to new nursing staff in Halls Creek has no mattresses, no window coverings, broken security screens and doors without locks?
(5) What funding will you immediately provide to ensure nursing staff facilities are improved so that they are not left vulnerable and unable to secure their accommodation?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 November 2000
Response time
57 days
The Minister Replied:
1. The Kimberley Health Service has seven Director of Nursing positions in the six public hospitals and one nursing home in the region. In the past three years, 9 permanent Directors of Nursing have resigned from across these seven positions.
In the Kimberley, there is not a turnover of around 300% in nursing staff. During 1999, the turnover rate for nursing staff was an average of 109.6%.
2. The actual amount of funding that has been expended in the past 12 months on ensuring that Halls Creek has essential nursing coverage is not known accurately. However, funds expended on maintaining essential coverage are not spent in lieu of attempting to attract permanent staff. Attracting longer term staff is an ongoing exercise.
3. Nursing staff at Halls Creek are paid within the existing industrial relations framework under an enterprise bargaining agreement. The current Kimberley Agreement is based on the Metropolitan Health Service EBA plus enhanced conditions that include financial incentives for longer service. The initiatives in the current Agreement will be evaluated in the near future, and other possible initiatives investigated, as the EBA is due for renewal in May 2001.
Additional staff development initiatives are also being progressed by the Kimberley Health Service as an added retention strategy. A housing upgrade for staff at Halls Creek has also been recently completed.
Given the Australia-wide shortage of nurses, the Kimberley Health Service will also look at any strategies formulated for attraction and retention that result from the current review being undertaken by the Health Department of WA on a state-wide basis. In the interim, the effectiveness of strategies such as overseas recruitment are being investigated.
4. Difficulties experienced with staff accommodation and security have already been addressed by the local Health Service Management in Halls Creek.
5. Required funding has already been expended and all staff accommodation is appropriately secure.
1. The Kimberley Health Service has seven Director of Nursing positions in the six public hospitals and one nursing home in the region. In the past three years, 9 permanent Directors of Nursing have resigned from across these seven positions.
In the Kimberley, there is not a turnover of around 300% in nursing staff. During 1999, the turnover rate for nursing staff was an average of 109.6%.
2. The actual amount of funding that has been expended in the past 12 months on ensuring that Halls Creek has essential nursing coverage is not known accurately. However, funds expended on maintaining essential coverage are not spent in lieu of attempting to attract permanent staff. Attracting longer term staff is an ongoing exercise.
3. Nursing staff at Halls Creek are paid within the existing industrial relations framework under an enterprise bargaining agreement. The current Kimberley Agreement is based on the Metropolitan Health Service EBA plus enhanced conditions that include financial incentives for longer service. The initiatives in the current Agreement will be evaluated in the near future, and other possible initiatives investigated, as the EBA is due for renewal in May 2001.
Additional staff development initiatives are also being progressed by the Kimberley Health Service as an added retention strategy. A housing upgrade for staff at Halls Creek has also been recently completed.
Given the Australia-wide shortage of nurses, the Kimberley Health Service will also look at any strategies formulated for attraction and retention that result from the current review being undertaken by the Health Department of WA on a state-wide basis. In the interim, the effectiveness of strategies such as overseas recruitment are being investigated.
4. Difficulties experienced with staff accommodation and security have already been addressed by the local Health Service Management in Halls Creek.
5. Required funding has already been expended and all staff accommodation is appropriately secure.
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