‘Staffing crisis’: $332m to plug gaps in nursing
Millions of dollars are being spent on contract nurses and overtime for already overworked staff to fill gaps in hospital rosters across NSW, the nurses’ union claims.
NSW
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Millions of dollars are being spent on contract nurses and overtime for already overworked staff to fill gaps in hospital rosters across NSW, the nurses’ union claims.
New data highlights the state’s heavy reliance on agency staff, with nurses labelling the shortage of workers as a “crisis”.
In the 2023-24 financial year, the NSW Ministry of Health spent more than $115m on agency costs for nurses and midwives.
In addition, according to the union, more than $217m was spent on overtime for 2.5 million hours last financial year alone.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association assistant general secretary Michael Whaites said there was a “staffing crisis” in NSW, fuelled by poor pay and conditions.
“There is an over-reliance on agency staff and overtime to fill the never-ending gaps in rosters across the state,” he said.
“We know many hospitals and health facilities across the state are struggling to recruit and retain our nursing and midwifery staff because of poor pay and conditions.”
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said agency costs for nurses had dropped from $153m in the financial year prior, as a result of increased retention rates and investment in the workforce.
“We are undertaking the most significant boost to our state’s health workforce in its history,” he said.
“Nurse retention levels (have reached) pre-Covid levels – as of June 30 retention has improved a further one per cent to 93.6 per cent over the past 12 months.”
Data released by the NSW Government shows that while overall agency costs dropped last financial year, some local health districts relied more heavily than the year prior.
Central Coast Local Health District spent more than $380,000 on agency costs last financial year, up from $328,000 the year before.
In the Far West Local Health District, agency costs also jumped, up from $4.6m in 2022-23 to $5.8m last financial year.
The Northern NSW Local Health District was responsible for the most agency related nursing costs, at more than $24m last financial year.
But that figure dropped from the year prior, when more than $36m was spent on agency nurses.
The union said in the state’s north, nurses were choosing to work across the border in Queensland, where pay is higher.
Mr Park said since taking office, the nursing workforce has increased by over 2,000 full time employees, taking the number to over 56,000.
Originally published as ‘Staffing crisis’: $332m to plug gaps in nursing
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