February 23rd, 2025Nursing ratios to improve under new patient care amendment
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas last week met with nurses and midwives to announce amendments to the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Act to put more nurses and midwives on shift – at all hours of the day.
The legislation, introduced last Tuesday, will see more nurses in the state’s busiest metropolitan and regional intensive care units (ICUs), emergency departments (EDs), high dependency and coronary care units, and more midwives in maternity wards.
The new ratios are the result of extensive consultation with nurses and midwives, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) and health services, and will set in stone:
The ‘gold standard’ 1:1 nurse to occupied bed ratio in ICUs on all shifts for all Level 1 and 2 hospitals – meaning that every occupied ICU bed has a dedicated nurse assigned to it at all times. ICUs will also require a team leader and liaison nurse for the very first time.
Improved staffing ratios in resuscitation cubicles in EDs on morning shifts – bringing morning shifts in line with afternoon and night shifts.
Patient ratios of 1:4 midwife to patient in postnatal and antenatal wards on night shifts – down from 1:6.
An in-charge nurse on night shifts in stand-alone High Dependency Units and Coronary Care Units.
The changes are aimed at improving care across the state’s health services, with ICUs benefitting from additional specialist nurses who can expertly manage critically ill patients with multiple and complex needs.
Patients in EDs will also benefit from a dedicated nurse in each resuscitation bay on every shift – recognising that EDs always have critically unwell patients that need care.
The changes will also increase the number of midwives working night shift – delivering the best and highest level of care to families around the clock.
Premier Jacinta Allan: “Anyone who’s experienced the incredible care of our nurses and midwives knows just how special their work really is. These reforms will mean an extra pair of hands, and an extra set of eyes, for some of our most precious patients.”
An in-charge nurse on night duty in high dependency and coronary care units will also help to ensure oversight of these critical areas on all shifts.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas: “We’re strengthening ratios – because it means better care for Victorians and more support for our hard-working nurses and midwives.”
The improved ratios have been backed by a $101.3 million investment to support health services with hiring or rostering additional nurses and midwifes.
This story based on a state government media release
