❓ Mr. Jones questions the Minister for Health on the implementation of nurse-to-patient ratios. The Minister responds by highlighting the government's commitment to healthcare workers and the progress made in implementing the ratios, while also criticising the opposition's stance.
AnsweredQoN 697Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NURSE-TO-PATIENT RATIOS
697. Mr H.T. JONES to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to implement nurse-to-patient ratios in Western Australian public
hospitals. Can the minister update the house on the implementation of this
program, which supports both patients and health workers and advise the house
whether she is aware of any alternative proposals to implement nurse-to-patient
ratios?
697. Mr H.T. JONES to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to implement nurse-to-patient ratios in Western Australian public
hospitals. Can the minister update the house on the implementation of this
program, which supports both patients and health workers and advise the house
whether she is aware of any alternative proposals to implement nurse-to-patient
ratios?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Darling
Range for his question.
The Cook government has a proud
record when it comes to our public healthcare workforce in Western Australia since
coming to government in 2017. We work as much as possible in partnership with
our public sector workforce, in particular
the public sector unions and all those who represent the incredible healthcare
workers. We do that for through a range
of forums by meaningfully listening to our workforce, taking up their ideas,
funding them and implementing them. People would have seen that around
emergency access and the emergency reforms that are underway.
The first time a state government
implemented a genuine work management tool for our nursing staff in public
hospitals was under Bob Kucera, a former Labor health minister. It was a Labor
government that introduced the nursing hours per patient day ratios. It is this
government that has delivered permanency for Western Australian doctors in our public health system. Last year,
Perth Children's Hospital became the first WA hospital to implement nurse-to-patient ratios in the emergency department. The rollout was incredibly
successful, because it was in partnership with the Australian Nursing
Federation and with nursing staff on the ground. Nurse-to-patient ratios are now rolling out across our hospitals in the
north metropolitan area. We are rolling those out now at Osborne Park and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospitals. Delivering those ratios is a key measure of
support for our nursing and midwifery staff.
We
are also supporting our junior doctors. The new Australian Medical Association
industrial agreement delivers more for junior doctors than any agreement
previously, including reducing the maximum length of shift from 14 hours to 10
hours, which will make a huge difference for those doctors; a 10-hour break
between shifts; better access to leave entitlements; a junior doctor support
payment of $4 000 per year to help them with college fees and all the costs
associated with training in their postgraduate era; and removing restrictions
on professional development leave.
In the support workers agreement,
we have seen wage increases of $65 per week over the next three years for those
low-paid workers in our health system. We are maximising access to permanent
hours. Existing staff will have the first right to access any leave backfill to
increase their weekly wage and bring more money into the household, giving them
a fair go, letting them get more hours and more money, which is a very, very
reasonable ask, and I am very happy that we are able to support them to do
that. For the first time, we have introduced the regional incentive payment in
the great southern, wheatbelt and south west; access to pro rata long service
leave after seven years; and expanded access to study leave for support workers
to enable them to study and upskill. We are currently in the process of
bargaining with the Health Services Union.
We have not heard a peep from the
opposition on whether it will stop the rollout of ratios. What is the
opposition's view on ratios? We are at that point of the election
cycle. What is the opposition's view, both the Nationals WA and the
Liberal Party, on whether it will continue the rollout of ratios or stop it.
Will the opposition honour the implementation framework and plan that has been
agreed with the ANF? We know that the opposition does not listen to the
healthcare workforce. After eight and a half years of the Liberal–National
government —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms A. SANDERSON : — the
total increase of staff was under 1 000. That was over eight years. That is
going backwards. That is less staff for more patients. The former government
moved to cut staff in the south metropolitan region.
That is less staff for more patients. We know that a Liberal government will
privatise and you will not tell them.
It is fair to say that healthcare
workers do not like any government.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms
A. SANDERSON : I think it is fair
to say that most healthcare workers do not love any government. They are tough,
they are dedicated and they are focused on their patients and the system they
work in. They are some of the most powerful advocates I have ever come
across in my entire career. They are incredible advocates, but they know that
Labor governments ensure better wages, better conditions and better funding for
our system. Labor governments are where
public healthcare flourishes—where it grows. We deliver. We value the
healthcare workforce. A Liberal coalition government will deliver
disarray, risk and privatisation.
Range for his question.
The Cook government has a proud
record when it comes to our public healthcare workforce in Western Australia since
coming to government in 2017. We work as much as possible in partnership with
our public sector workforce, in particular
the public sector unions and all those who represent the incredible healthcare
workers. We do that for through a range
of forums by meaningfully listening to our workforce, taking up their ideas,
funding them and implementing them. People would have seen that around
emergency access and the emergency reforms that are underway.
The first time a state government
implemented a genuine work management tool for our nursing staff in public
hospitals was under Bob Kucera, a former Labor health minister. It was a Labor
government that introduced the nursing hours per patient day ratios. It is this
government that has delivered permanency for Western Australian doctors in our public health system. Last year,
Perth Children's Hospital became the first WA hospital to implement nurse-to-patient ratios in the emergency department. The rollout was incredibly
successful, because it was in partnership with the Australian Nursing
Federation and with nursing staff on the ground. Nurse-to-patient ratios are now rolling out across our hospitals in the
north metropolitan area. We are rolling those out now at Osborne Park and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospitals. Delivering those ratios is a key measure of
support for our nursing and midwifery staff.
We
are also supporting our junior doctors. The new Australian Medical Association
industrial agreement delivers more for junior doctors than any agreement
previously, including reducing the maximum length of shift from 14 hours to 10
hours, which will make a huge difference for those doctors; a 10-hour break
between shifts; better access to leave entitlements; a junior doctor support
payment of $4 000 per year to help them with college fees and all the costs
associated with training in their postgraduate era; and removing restrictions
on professional development leave.
In the support workers agreement,
we have seen wage increases of $65 per week over the next three years for those
low-paid workers in our health system. We are maximising access to permanent
hours. Existing staff will have the first right to access any leave backfill to
increase their weekly wage and bring more money into the household, giving them
a fair go, letting them get more hours and more money, which is a very, very
reasonable ask, and I am very happy that we are able to support them to do
that. For the first time, we have introduced the regional incentive payment in
the great southern, wheatbelt and south west; access to pro rata long service
leave after seven years; and expanded access to study leave for support workers
to enable them to study and upskill. We are currently in the process of
bargaining with the Health Services Union.
We have not heard a peep from the
opposition on whether it will stop the rollout of ratios. What is the
opposition's view on ratios? We are at that point of the election
cycle. What is the opposition's view, both the Nationals WA and the
Liberal Party, on whether it will continue the rollout of ratios or stop it.
Will the opposition honour the implementation framework and plan that has been
agreed with the ANF? We know that the opposition does not listen to the
healthcare workforce. After eight and a half years of the Liberal–National
government —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms A. SANDERSON : — the
total increase of staff was under 1 000. That was over eight years. That is
going backwards. That is less staff for more patients. The former government
moved to cut staff in the south metropolitan region.
That is less staff for more patients. We know that a Liberal government will
privatise and you will not tell them.
It is fair to say that healthcare
workers do not like any government.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms
A. SANDERSON : I think it is fair
to say that most healthcare workers do not love any government. They are tough,
they are dedicated and they are focused on their patients and the system they
work in. They are some of the most powerful advocates I have ever come
across in my entire career. They are incredible advocates, but they know that
Labor governments ensure better wages, better conditions and better funding for
our system. Labor governments are where
public healthcare flourishes—where it grows. We deliver. We value the
healthcare workforce. A Liberal coalition government will deliver
disarray, risk and privatisation.
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