WORKING GROUP TO DRIVE SAFE STAFFING LEVELS IN OUR HOSPITALS

Regional Round-Up

With Janelle Saffin MP State Member for Lismore

The NSW Government last week announced the establishment of the Safe Staffing Working Group, which will plan and drive the implementation of safe staffing levels across the public hospital system, starting with emergency departments.

The Government is committed to boosting the number of nurses and midwives in New South Wales hospitals, beginning with our stretched emergency departments.

This includes delivering safe, high-quality healthcare to rural, regional and remote communities.

The Government will recruit 1,200 additional nurses and midwives in our healthcare system within our first term.

The Safe Staffing Working Group will hold its first meeting early this month (May) and will report to NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM, who will provide regular updates to the NSW Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park MP.

A key member of the group is Luke Sloane, Coordinator-General Regional Health, NSW Health, who will continue to work to support the Government’s priority of ensuring access to safe, high quality and timely healthcare for all rural, regional and remote communities across New South Wales.

Mr Sloane will provide advice to Minister Park about matters concerning health in regional communities.

Other members of the working group include:

• Phil Minns, Deputy Secretary, People, Culture and Governance, NSW Health.

• Shaye Candish, General Secretary, NSW Nurses & Midwives Association.

• Jo Blackwell, Executive Director for Workplace Relations, NSW Health.

• Michael Whaites, Assistant General Secretary, NSW Nurses & Midwives Association.

• Roisin Beard, Lead Industrial Officer – Public Health, NSW Nurses & Midwives Association.

• Renata Di Staso,

Manager – Public Health Organising, NSW Nurses & Midwives Association.

The group will navigate the complexities of the NSW health system, including:

• The diverse workforce needs of facilities;

• Varying patient acuity levels;

• Differences based on time-of-day and specialty type; and

• Nursing workforce planning and supply.

CB networks for better disaster preparedness

THE failure of our telecommunications systems during the catastrophic floods last year left many local villages and rural areas without communications at a critical time.

It is vital that we have reliable communications during emergencies such as bushfires, floods and storms, to keep us connected to information, services and to check on loved ones.

This idea of using CB Radio networks was raised with me at a flood recovery forum in Nimbin last year and local community volunteers have followed up. There are now 25 communities from the Queensland border down to Coffs Harbour where locals have set up their own CB radio emergency networks.

I commend the work of Northern Rivers resident and CB expert John Miller, who, with the backing of Rotary, has trained people in setting up and using CB radio networks to stay connected in emergencies.

The Summerland Amateur Radio Club and CREST, Citizens Radio Emergency Services Teams have also been behind this initiative. Next in line is Kyogle. John says he’s had a lot of interest from Kyogle residents in setting up a local CB radio network. If you would like to be part of it you can go to the Community Emergency Radio Network Northern Rivers public Facebook group, or email John john1954@gmail.com

Grants Deadlines

EXTENDED

THERE is still time to apply for grants from the February/March 2022 floods.

You have until 30 June this year to apply for the Back Home Grants, Rental Assistance Support and grants for businesses, rural landholders and primary producers. Details at www.service.nsw.gov. au Please note the acquittal deadline for rural grants is 30 September 2023. I am lobbying for this to be extended.

The Lismore Disaster Recovery Hub has also been extended until June 30, as I requested.

MINISTERS’ FEET UNDER THEIR DESKS

NSW Premier Chris Minns during a priority visit to Lismore flagged that his first Cabinet ministers would have their feet under their desks and getting departmental briefings the day after being sworn in.

I, together with my staff, will continue to make strong representations on behalf of constituents to Premier Minns, Deputy Premier Prue Car and all Ministers.

For a full list of Ministers go to www.nsw. gov.au/nsw-government/ ministers

You may contact them directly via this email naming convention – office@minister’s surname.minister.nsw.