Mandated nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios are almost a reality across all of Canberra’s public health facilities. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
University of Canberra Hospital’s inpatient areas and sub-acute mental health services are the final frontiers to ensure all of the ACT’s public health facilities are covered by the new nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios.
Nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios set the mandated minimum number of nurses or midwives assigned to a ward, unit, or area, relative to the number of patients.
Canberra is the country’s second jurisdiction to recognise newborns as patients when determining staffing levels, and the past 18 months have seen the successful introduction of ratios in all other inpatient areas across Canberra Hospital, North Canberra Hospital and public mental health units.
Work’s now started to close out phase two of the implementation program.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said this would mark a significant milestone in the ACT Government’s long-term plan to improve patient care and working conditions for nurses and midwives.
“It’s really pleasing to see the final tranche of phase two of nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios rolling out across the remaining inpatient areas of the ACT’s public health system,” she said.
“The staged implementation was designed to enhance patient safety, improve care outcomes, and support sustainable working conditions for both nurses and midwives.
“These new minimum ratios give staff the time, support, and confidence they need to deliver the high-quality care our community expects and deserves.”
Under the ratio staffing model, each unit is expected to be supported by a balanced skill mix of staff, including a minimum number of nurses or midwives and additional resources based on the complexity of care required.
The 2024-25 ACT Budget committed $86 million over four years to recruit an additional 137.2 full-time equivalent nursing and midwifery staff across the Territory’s public health services to support the mandated minimum nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios.
“Our public health system has made it a priority to meet the new ratios as they have been introduced, and we’ve heard positive feedback from staff on the difference this has made to their working conditions and patient care,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“With the completion of phase two, more teams will now benefit from safer workloads and a staffing structure that reflects the realities of modern health care.”
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Foundation has long campaigned for the introduction of ratios and has worked with the ACT Government to determine the appropriate ratios for each health setting.
ACT branch secretary Carlyn Fidow said the implementation of the final tranche of ratios was a “significant milestone” for nurse, midwife and patient safety.
“In ward areas where ratios are being met consistently, nurses and midwives report safer workloads and better support from team leaders in supernumerary roles,” she said.
“When nurses and midwives have safe, manageable workloads, patients receive the standard of care they deserve – that’s what ratios deliver in practice.”
But it’s not the end of the ratios story.
ANMF ACT will continue to push for the implementation of ratios in community health and other settings, where Ms Fidow said nurses and midwives remain “without safe staffing protections”.
“The government must meet its commitment to safe workloads for nurses and midwives by ensuring full compliance with ratios at all times,” she said.
“Workplace safety and respect for the work of nurses and midwives continue to shape workplaces and impact the recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives.”
The implementation of Mandated Minimum Nurse/Midwife-to-Patient Ratios within Canberra Health Services will be evaluated in 2026-27.
