The Victorian Government is backing nurses and midwives with improved ratios that will see an extra 500 employed in Victorian hospitals.
Amendments to the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Act will ensure nurses and midwives can devote more time to each patient – delivering better, safer care.
There will be more nurses and midwives in medical and surgical wards, birthing suites, postnatal wards, special care nurseries, geriatric evaluation management wards, larger EDs with short stay observation areas. Staffing will also be improved in residential aged care and rehabilitation wards.
Smaller regional hospitals will also get additional After Hours Coordinators where specified, acknowledging the increasing complexity of coordinating mixed services in these hospitals.
“Nurses and midwives are there for us when we need them the most – that’s why we’re there for them. These changes will help them devote more time to each patient and deliver high quality care in a safer environment,” said Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos.
Honouring our nurses and midwives
Marking International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife and 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale, Minister Mikakos has also announced the commissioning of a mural thanking our nurses and midwives for their care and dedication, and for going above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic.
Several prominent health sites are being considered for the location of the artwork, including the Parkville precinct which is home to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Royal Women’s Hospital. The artist will be selected following a targeted expression of interest process in collaboration with Creative Victoria.
The Victorian Government has also allocated $100,000 towards an exhibition to honour nursing and the important events which have shaped the profession over the past century.
“Our nurses and midwives are heroes and now more than ever we thank them for the work they do every day caring for all Victorians,” said Minister Mikakos.
Reviewed 01 November 2021