Parliament passes law protecting rural health workers named after nurse Gayle Woodford

NURSES and rural health care workers will be legally required to work on pairs after “Gayle’s Law” passed both houses of Parliament.

• Dudley Davey’s appeal against 32-year minimum term rejected
• Minimum 32 years for Gayle Woodford’s murderer

NURSES and health workers in rural communities will no longer work alone after new legislation passed through parliament on Tuesday.

The law was named after nurse Gayle Woodford who was murdered while working in the remote APY community of Fregon in April 2016.

The new law means that single nurse postings in rural areas will be abolished and all call outs will require a minimum of two medical personnel.

Under the new legislation companies can be fined if they do allow employees to attend call outs by themselves.

The late Gayle Woodford with her husband Keith. Picture: Supplied by family

Ms Woodford was the on call nurse in Fregon when her killer, Dudley Davey, came to her door, claiming his grandmother was ill to lure her out of the safety of her home.

The 56-year-old was bundled into the back of her own ambulance and driven out into the scrubland where she was raped and murdered.

Husband Keith Woodford and his family were at the Parliament House when the legislation passed.

“We are all extremely happy about the outcome and now we have to focus on getting the rest of the state and getting everyone on board,” he said.

Keith Woodford speaks outside the Supreme Court flanked by his daughter Alison and son Gary after Dudley Davey’s sentencing.

South Australian Labor MP, and former nurse, Annabel Digance, who has been a vocal force behind the law took to Twitter to voice her happiness that the legislation had passed parliament.

“Gayles Law just passed in Parliament of South Australia-all tribute to Keith Woodford for your commitment & legacy in Gayle’s memory,” Ms Digance wrote.