Skip navigation

Media Release: Greens Call For Better Health Care And Mandated Nurse-To-Patient Ratios

profile image
Amanda Cohn
NSW Greens MP
20 May 2023

Wollongong (Dharawal country) Greens candidate for the seat of Keira Kit Docker is calling for mandated nurse to patient ratios in public hospitals to ensure patient safety, improve working conditions for nurses and midwives and tackle the growing NSW healthcare crisis.

Dr Amanda Cohn Greens candidate for the Upper House said: 

“Not only do ratios save lives, they also reduce costs on our healthcare system because patients who receive quality care in hospital are less likely to be readmitted. 

“The Greens NSW are also committed to a real pay rise for nurses, midwives and paramedics,” Dr Cohn said.

“Patients across NSW are struggling to access the care they need because of staffing shortages.  I have worked with nurses who choose to take extra shifts in retail where they can earn more than working in our public hospitals - this is a disgrace that needs to be urgently rectified,” Dr Cohn said.

Greens MP and Health spokesperson Cate Faehrmann said:

“Ratios will give the state’s nurses and midwives a safe working environment and ensure patients are receiving the care they need,” Cate Faehrmann said. 

“Nurses and midwives are at breaking point. If we don’t implement nurse-to-patient ratios we will see a mass exodus from our health system. 

“Chronic understaffing is dangerous for patients and it's dangerous for nurses and midwives. The Greens will do what the other parties won’t and move to legislate ratios. 

“Queensland, Victoria and the ACT have introduced nurse to patient ratios with the South Australian Government committed to doing it in their first term. There is no reason for NSW not to do the same,” Ms Faehrmann said.

Cate Faehrmann, the Greens NSW health spokesperson, introduced the Health Services Amendment (Nurse-to-Patient and Midwife-to-Patient Ratios) Bill 2022 to the NSW Upper House in 2022 which would have mandated safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in NSW public hospitals.

“Instead this so called Liberal/ National coalition and NSW Labor voted to cap the wages of essential workers,” Mr Docker said. 

“It’s critical we have a fair, equitable and safe health system for nurses and midwives, paramedics and healthcare workers - and most importantly for patients.

“It’s disappointing that neither of the major parties have committed to meet the full demands of  nurses and midwives who have been marching in the streets and raising the alarm. 

“If elected, I will work with the new government and our Greens MPs to ensure our nurses and healthcare workers have safer working conditions, better nurse to patient ratios and affordable health care in NSW,” Kit said.

Media Contact: Andrew Bradley   p: 0412 500 009   e: [email protected]

profile image
Amanda Cohn
NSW Greens MP
20 May 2023
SHARE:

THE LATEST NEWS

NSW Government Must Rule Out Involuntary Patients in Private Hospitals

The NSW Government must immediately rule out declaring private hospitals as mental health facilities for involuntary patients under the Mental Health Act.

NSW Abortion Law Review Backs Greens' Push for Reform

A state government review of abortion laws, conducted five years after decriminalisation, has made several recommendations that align with the Greens forthcoming legislation.

Media Release: Mental health crisis: Greens urge investment in workforce instead of costly temporary fix

Friday 17 January 2025 The NSW Greens are calling on the government to invest in the state’s psychiatry workforce rather than costing the taxpayer a fortune and patients their mental health by opting to fill positions with locum staff.

NSW patients and GPs struggling amid rising costs, report finds

Dr. Amanda Cohn, Greens NSW Spokesperson for Health including Mental Health and a former country GP, has expressed serious concern in response to new data revealing a worsening crisis in GP accessibility in New South Wales.