Three local hospitals are included in a list of 27 across rural and regional parts of NSW to have official Safe Staffing Levels introduced in emergency departments.
The state government says they’re recruiting for extra nurses in regional and rural NSW, including at Tweed Valley, Lismore Base and Ballina hospitals.
The latest rollout of the scheme makes for a total of 40 hospitals said to have had Safe Staffing Levels introduced to their EDs.
The scheme dictates minimum staffing levels on every shift, including a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied ED resuscitation beds.
One nurse to every three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay unit beds is to be rostered on all shifts.
The government says 570 full-time equivalent nurses have been recruited to help fill the extra roles required.
Phase one of the program has been rolled out in official level five and six EDs, which the government says treat the most critically ill patients.
The government says the program is being implemented progressively across other key areas in a phased approach.
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