The ACT government will commit $50.1 million over four years to hire 90 extra nurses and midwives across Canberra's health services.
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It will be the first investment to achieve nursing and midwifery ratios across the ACT's public health system, which ACT Labor committed to at last year's election.
The additional staff will work across Calvary Public Hospital at Bruce and Canberra Health Services, with recruitment for the jobs expected to begin later this year.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the announcement began the process of delivering on a 2020 election commitment to hire 400 extra nurses and healthcare professionals.
"More nurses and midwives in our public health system means better-quality health care for Canberrans, as well as thousands of people in the southern NSW region that rely on the ACT healthcare system," Mr Barr said.
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Mr Barr said in September last year that the commitment included 200 new nurses and more than 150 clinical staff, including specialists and registrars.
The minimum ratios of nurses or midwives to patients varies depending on the part of the hospital, with the first phase of ratios to be agreed with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the additional nurses and midwives would reduce staff fatigue, boost job satisfaction, and create a more sustainable workforce.
"Implementing ratios guarantees there will be more staff on the ward to provide care and ensures an increased skill mix on each shift to provide the best possible care for patients in our public health system," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
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Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
