Thanks to the QNMU, legislated minimum nurse-to-patient ratios were implemented in July 2016 in Queensland Health prescribed facilities. In the two years after implementation, there were:
The QNMU has had great success over the years with getting the State Government to roll out minimum ratios in mental health wards and state-run nursing homes.
Work is currently underway to implement the commitments secured by the QNMU at the last state election from the Palaszczuk Labor Government around ratios - specifically, to trial ratios in operating theatres, offender health, and maternity wards. The government also committed to developing a model for mandated minimum ratios in emergency departments.
But mandated ratios don’t exist in areas like maternity, emergency departments, private hospitals and private aged care facilities. No matter where you live, every patient and resident in Queensland deserves safe, high quality nursing and midwifery care.
That’s why we need minimum nurse/midwife-to-patient ratios everywhere – to ensure there are enough nurses, midwives and carers to provide the care all Queenslanders deserve.
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