Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Health spokesperson
The Greens were proud to join members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation at the Launceston General Hospital today to launch our plan to tackle the untenable shortage of nurses and midwives in Tasmania.
Our plan will recruit 600 new graduate nurses and midwives,120 permanent pool staff for our hospitals, 10 Psychiatrist Emergency Nurses, and establish a comprehensive, statewide strategy for recruitment and training.
The reality faced by nurses and midwives in the Tasmanian health system has been dismissed by the Liberals for years. The lack of the necessary funding and staffing has put an unworkable burden on nurses and midwives, and has inevitably led to poorer health outcomes for patients. The ageing cohort in the Tasmanian nursing and midwifery sector will exacerbate these issues further in the years ahead.
It’s crucial we take immediate action, and put the voice of those on the frontline at the centre of the solutions for tackling the health crisis.
With an existing statewide shortfall of 400 nurses and midwives now, and a looming exodus as ageing staff retire, investing in recruiting and training more staff now is an absolutely critical investment to ensure the health of Tasmanians for years to come.
The Greens have listened to the concerns of nurses and midwives, and have a comprehensive plan that will confront the challenges they face head on.
Our plan will lead to a safer, more effective, more compassionate and more efficient health system.
By providing proper funding and staffing, we will relieve the immeasurable strain that's been felt by nurses for far too long, and improve outcomes for patients right around Tasmania.
READ THE FULL PLAN:
https://tasmps.greens.org.au/green-new-deal/supporting-nurses-midwives