Premier Daniel Andrews, Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, with nurses and midwives, announcing the ratio amendment bill would be introduced on the first day of the 59th Victorian Parliament. Photo Chris Hopkins
The Safe Patient Care Amendment Bill that will introduce improved and new ratios to Victoria’s public hospitals has passed the lower house of the Victorian Parliament.
On 19 December 2018, the bill was the first piece of legislation tabled in Parliament by the Andrews Government after being re-elected in November.
The bill is expected to pass the upper house during the February sitting of the Victorian Parliament. It will mean an additional 611 nurses and midwives phased in to the Victorian health system over five years from March 2019 or once the bill receives royal assent.
When passed by the lower and upper houses of Parliament, the first phase of these improvements within the amendment bill is scheduled to come into effect from 1 March 2019.
The improvements will be phased in over five years to allow for recruitment and the development of workforce capacity, as outlined in this ANMF newsflash.
A second round of ratio reform will lead to an additional 547 nurses and midwives. These improvements will be contained in a second amendment bill.
