The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) has welcomed increased investment in Queensland Health (QH) but seeks further detail regarding state budget initiatives outlined today.
QNMU Acting Secretary Kate Veach applauded the state government’s 9.6% increase in health funding but said more information was required to address member concerns around Queensland’s existing health workforce crisis.
“The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union notes the state government’s significant increase in health care funding,” Ms Veach said.
“We also note the state budget includes new facilities, health reform and hospital avoidance initiatives to reduce pressures on existing Queensland Health hospital and health services.
“However more detail is required to evaluate whether today’s funding announcements adequately address existing dangerous workloads, workforce shortages and the safety of nurses, midwives and those they care for.
“There is no doubt more needs to be done to fix Queensland’s existing workforce crisis before the state government can ensure safe staff numbers and skill mix are in place for new facilities and beds outlined in the budget.”
Ms Veach welcomed health system reform such as increased telehealth to divert pressure from QH Emergency Departments and aid connection with remote communities. She said the QNMU would comment further when more detail was received.
“We are looking to the new Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to make fixing the health workforce crisis a genuine priority,” Ms Veach said.
“Ms Fentiman could start to fix the staffing crisis by stemming the exodus of Queensland Health nurses and midwives and working with the federal government to develop a workforce plan that future proofs the state government’s significant health investment.
“Getting the nursing and midwifery workforce to safe levels will actually save the system money – we know adverse outcomes and hospital readmissions decrease when there are adequate nurse and midwife numbers and skill mix. Investing in the health workforce makes sense.”
The QNMU’s state government budget submission called for:
- Investment in workforce crisis healthcare reform: Funding to address widespread existing and forecast QH staffing shortfalls along with a comprehensive workforce plan to guarantee appropriate numbers of midwives and nurses, including the provision of scholarships and other support mechanisms
- Innovative roles: Funding and support for autonomous practice such as MGP, Nurse Practitioner clinics and private practice midwives. Enabling nurses and midwives to work to the full scope of their roles to help meet care demand
- Ratios: The continued roll out of minimum, legislated ratios in QH maternity, operating theatres, emergency and offender health
- Gender pay equity considerations including: Adopting gender pay equity considerations in public sector bargaining processes, interventions that address unpaid childcare such as employer or state funded provision of childcare or tax policies, investing in women-dominated industries and occupations and supporting women-owned and led businesses
- Specialty areas: Increase nurse numbers in specialty areas of mental health and aged care and strategies to enable nurses and midwives to continue contributing to “Close the Gap” in life expectancy for First Nation peoples. Fund a large-scale implementation study of a partnership continuity of midwifery care approach to reduce pre-term birth rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The QNMU awaits detail of how the state government’s $42M investment in maternity services will support and further midwife led continuity of care models such as Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). The QNMU is advised this will be discussed at the state government’s second maternity round table on June 16.
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