After years of QNMU advocacy and campaigns, the Palaszczuk Labor government implemented minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in July 2016 in Queensland Health prescribed facilities. In the two years after implementation, independent, peer reviewed research published in The Lancet found nurse-to-patient ratios resulted in:
Queensland was the fourth jurisdiction in the world to implement nurse-to-patient ratios, and the QNMU has had further success over the years in getting the Labor State Government to roll out minimum ratios in mental health wards and state-run nursing homes.
Most recently, years of QNMU member lead campaigns paid off, and the Labor State Government
passed legislation stipulating that a newborn baby is to be counted as a patient when they are staying on a maternity ward with their birthing parent. Under the new law, Queensland will become the
only state or territory in Australia to count both mothers and babies in midwifery ratios! It's an important step towards achieving the promised 1:6 midwife to mother and baby ratio across all Queensland Health maternity services.
No matter where you live, every patient and resident in Queensland deserves safe, high quality nursing and midwifery care.
That’s why we need minimum nurse/midwife-to-patient ratios everywhere – to ensure there are enough nurses, midwives and carers to provide the care all Queenslanders deserve.
Read our campaign frequently asked questions