Safe staffing levels and sharing in $3m for a new palliative care unit – no wonder the NSW health minister turned up.
Campbelltown Hospital has become the latest NSW public hospital to implement the Safe Staffing Levels initiative, recruiting 41 FTE nurses for its emergency department.
The new recruits will enable a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied ED resuscitation beds on all shifts, and one nurse to three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and short-stay unit beds on all shifts.
NSW health minister Ryan Park was on hand yesterday to make the announcement, part of phase one of the safe staffing initiative which is focused on level 5 and 6 EDs, treating the most critically ill patients.
The SSL taskforce was established to oversee the rollout of a commitment of 2480 FTE over four years, including 1112 FTE nurse and midwife positions, abolishing the wages cap and delivering wage increases, and recruiting 500 paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.
Also on Mr Park’s agenda was announcing a $3 million investment which will deliver a new acute palliative care ward at Campbelltown and increase the subacute palliative care capacity at Camden Hospital, also part of the South Western Sydney LHD.
The acute palliative care ward at Campbelltown will support patients who may still be receiving treatment, but who require immediate symptom management. The subacute ward at Camden will focus on restorative care and long-term quality of life and wellbeing.
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The Campbelltown Hospital program will create a new tailored ward for palliative care patients with a new nurse call system and upgraded computer systems.
The Camden Hospital program will revamp the old maternity ward to create an expanded palliative care ward with renovated bathrooms designed specifically to support palliative care patients, a new nurse call system and patient experience enhancements, including access to an outdoor courtyard.
“This expansion will help ensure palliative care services in south-western Sydney are well placed to meet the growing needs of Camden, Campbelltown, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly communities now and into the future,” said Mr Park.
“We still have a lot of work to do, but this investment will offer more privacy, comfort and dignity to support people in their final stages of life, help support their loved ones and help ensure they continue to receive the highest standard of care.”