Staffing – Nurse/Midwife to patient ratios – 2023

South Gippsland Hospital provides inpatient care in a 16 bed mixed ward.

The ward provides care for patients who need to stay overnight and for those requiring treatment on a day-stay only basis:
• with medical and surgical conditions (up to 12 allocated beds)
• within the Transition Care Program (2 allocated beds)
• to birth their baby within our Level 3 Maternity Service capabilities (1 birthing suite), and
• requiring postnatal care (2 allocated beds)

In compliance with the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Act 2020 (the Act), we roster nurses according to the following ratios:

Morning Shift (7.00am – 3.30pm)
1 nurse: 6 patients for general medical/surgical/TCP patients
1 midwife: 4 patients for postnatal maternity care
1 midwife: 1 patient for intrapartum maternity care (active labour)

Plus 1 nurse in charge

The unique ratio for our mixed ward on an AM shift is 1 : 5.06

Afternoon Shift (2.30pm – 11.00pm)
1 nurse: 7 for general medical/surgical/TCP patients
1 midwife: 4 patients for postnatal maternity care
1 midwife: 1 patient for intrapartum maternity care (active labour)

Plus 1 nurse in charge

The unique ratio for our mixed ward on an PM shift is 1 : 6.43

Night Shift (10.45pm – 7.15am)
1 nurse: 10 patients for general medical/surgical/TCP patients
1 midwife: 6 patients for postnatal maternity care
1 midwife: 1 patient for intrapartum maternity care (active labour)

Plus 1 nurse in charge

The unique ratio for our mixed ward on an ND shift is 1 : 9.25

Please note that SGH has entered into a local agreement with the ANMF and the roster therefore provides (7 days per week for 16 beds) 4 nurses on both the morning and afternoon shifts, and 3 on a night. There is also a “cross-over” shift 1030am to 1900hrs daily.

 

Based on analysis of occupancy for the period 1 January 2023 to 33 June 2023, the expected occupancy of the acute mixed ward is 71% for the period 1 September 2023 to 29 February 2024. The expected births for the 6 months 1 September 2023 to 29 February 2024 is 25.

Please note that for the period 1 January 2023 to 33 June 2023, 95% of the acute mixed ward was occupied by general medical/surgical/TCP patients, with the remaining 5% being occupied by maternity patients.

 

Updated  29 August 2023.