❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding nursing staff shortages at Geraldton Regional Hospital, including FTE levels and overtime hours, and the government's response outlining recruitment efforts and funding increases.
AnsweredQoN 335Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to claims from the Australian Nursing Federation regarding staff shortages in the Mid West region, as reported by ABC News on 25 October 2021 in an article titled Nursing union says inexperienced staff are working in understaffed Geraldton ED , and I ask: (a) what is the authorised nursing FTE level for Geraldton Regional Hospital; (b) what is the current nursing FTE level for Geraldton Regional Hospital; (c) how many staff at Geraldton Regional Hospital have been rostered for more than 80 hours in the last fortnight, and have any been rostered for greater than 100 hours; and (d) noting the State Government's $5.8 billion budget surplus, what specific measures is the Minister taking to increase staffing levels at Geraldton Regional Hospital?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 December 2021
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
9 days
I am advised:
(a)-(b) Please refer to Legislative Council Question on Notice 364.
(c) In the fortnight 27/09/2021 to 10/10/2021, 88 staff were rostered for more than 80 hours, 7 of which were rostered for more than 100 hours.
(d) WA Country Health Service continues to actively monitor staffing levels and the management of workload across all of its health facilities, including Geraldton Hospital. There are a range of strategies which continue to be actively pursued to enhance and streamline recruitment and retention across all staffing disciplines.
The State Government is investing an additional $2.3 billion in WA health system this financial year, a record level of funding. Since January 2021, over 1158 nurses and 440 doctors have been recruited to work in the WA public health system. An additional 1,200 graduate nurses are expected to be employed in 2022.
A significant part of this new investment is to employ more doctors, nurses and midwives across the WA health system to address workforce shortages arising from COVID-19. Furthermore, local and international advertising campaigns across multiple platforms including television, radio, outdoor, digital and print are underway. Other measures also underway include a dedicated refresher program to support enrolled nurses, registered nurses and midwives requiring recency of practice to return to the workforce.
(a)-(b) Please refer to Legislative Council Question on Notice 364.
(c) In the fortnight 27/09/2021 to 10/10/2021, 88 staff were rostered for more than 80 hours, 7 of which were rostered for more than 100 hours.
(d) WA Country Health Service continues to actively monitor staffing levels and the management of workload across all of its health facilities, including Geraldton Hospital. There are a range of strategies which continue to be actively pursued to enhance and streamline recruitment and retention across all staffing disciplines.
The State Government is investing an additional $2.3 billion in WA health system this financial year, a record level of funding. Since January 2021, over 1158 nurses and 440 doctors have been recruited to work in the WA public health system. An additional 1,200 graduate nurses are expected to be employed in 2022.
A significant part of this new investment is to employ more doctors, nurses and midwives across the WA health system to address workforce shortages arising from COVID-19. Furthermore, local and international advertising campaigns across multiple platforms including television, radio, outdoor, digital and print are underway. Other measures also underway include a dedicated refresher program to support enrolled nurses, registered nurses and midwives requiring recency of practice to return to the workforce.
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