Major Australian hospitals join new nurse and midwife staffing model

This aims to replace nursing hours per patient.

Two Australian hospitals have started nurse and midwife-to-patient staffing ratios as the ratios for medical and surgical wards are insufficient.

The new workforce model aims to replace nursing hours per patient in all Western Australian hospitals. The old staffing model saw one nurse to every four patients by day and one nurse to every seven patients by night.

Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park hospitals will benefit from these ratios. 

Since 2017, Western Australia's healthcare workforce by 30%, adding 4,000 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) nurses and 1,800 FTE doctors.

"Research has shown that the ratio of nurses and midwives relative to the number of patients is an important factor when considering patients' experience and outcomes,” Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said.