Page 1335 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 12 May 2021
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notifiable conditions and funding applications for grants; assistance with outbreak management and advice to high-risk settings such as aged care and childcare centres; support for existing immunisation programs, including a record year for influenza vaccination in 2020; development of the COVID-19 vaccine program; COVID-19 response support, including contact tracing, case coordination and quarantine follow-up; and monitoring, investigation and reporting of adverse events following immunisation for all vaccinations.
The themes for International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day are fitting, considering the work being undertaken across the ACT. The theme for International Nurses Day, celebrated today, 12 May, is “Nurses: a voice to lead—a vision for future health care”. This theme highlights the future development of nursing and how the profession will transform the next stage of health care.
ACT Labor committed to providing more nurses and midwives in the healthcare system, and an important part of that commitment is the implementation of nurse-to-patient ratios. Ratios enable a safer and more effective ACT healthcare system for our patients as well as the nurses and midwives themselves.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the ACT government and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation to complete a body of work, specifically the development of an appropriate ratios framework that could be implemented in ACT public health services. “Ratios framework” means a workload management system that includes agreed mandated minimum nurse and midwife ratios that consider the acuity, patient safety and workload in each designated clinical area.
As part of the negotiations for the new nursing and midwifery enterprise agreement, parties have discussed and agreed in principle on the first phase of implementation of nursing ratios at Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Hospital, Bruce. The first phase has a focus on general medical, general surgical, acute aged care and the adult mental health unit. A phased approach is intended, with the first phase completed over the next four years.
Nurses and midwives are also involved in culture change and enabling a safer healthcare system. One example of this is the establishment of the Nurses and Midwives: Towards a Safer Culture project. The towards a safer culture project is nearing completion of the implementation phase and is aimed at supporting the fundamental rights of nurses and midwives in the ACT public healthcare system to be safe and protected from harm in their workplaces.
Occupational violence is a global problem confronting all health workers; this is a major focus for our health services as they strive to provide a safer and healthier environment within diverse and dynamic workplaces. Nurses and midwives have led the implementation of the Safewards model and interventions, a model designed to reduce conflict and containment events in inpatient mental health and medical settings. The Safewards model and interventions trial in ACT public health services will conclude in June 2021 and will be reviewed to inform future approaches.
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