In a statement released on Tuesday, NSW Labor leader Luke Foley said if elected his government would employ 840 additional nurses in NSW hospitals - comprising 735 additional nurses in emergency departments and 105 new nurses in paediatric wards.

Member for Shellharbour, Anna Watson said Shellharbour Hospital was one of the 75 emergency departments across the state that would benefit from the model.

“Under our model, there would be one nurse for every three patients in hospitals,” Ms Watson said.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Labor has listened to the case for increasing nurse-to-patient ratios.

“I am also very pleased that Shellharbour Hospital will be included in this new nurse-to-patient ratio as it’s rolled out across the state.

“We intend to place the new nurse-to-patient ratio into law to ensure this new standard gives nurses security of employment.

“It means this law will ensure nurses will not have to fight for safe nurse-to-patient ratios in any future negotiations with the state government.”

General Secretary of the NSW Nurse and Midwives Association, Brett Holmes said the commitment was evidence of the ongoing effort by nurses and midwives, who had campaigned tirelessly to legally enforce ratios.

“After four years of lobbying the Liberal-Nationals Government for improved mandated ratios to no avail, NSW Labor has recognised the vital role of nurse-to-patient ratios in the delivery of safe patient care,” Mr Holmes said.

“Prior to the 2011 election, our members successfully campaigned for ratios to be introduced into selected wards as part of negotiations on their wages and working conditions award, but their resolve has been to continue fighting for extended ratios.

“Finally there is now a considered and costed commitment being put forward that will assist in improving safe patient care and help to reduce waiting times in our already over-stretched emergency departments.”

However, NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said Labor’s costing “do not add up” and slammed Labor for its “extraordinary backflip on nurse to patient ratios” and said the

“This is a classic Labor stunt. One minute they reject nurse to patient ratios and the next minute they support it,” Ms Skinner said.

“Luke Foley and Labor have just shown NSW they have zero credibility when it comes to running the health system.

“Labor’s commitment to an additional 840 nursing positions is not even a quarter of the Baird government’s nurse recruitment in our first term.”

The Labor Candidate for Kiama, Glenn Kolomeitz said the new nurses would be recruited in the first term of government and the additional nurses would cost an estimated $96 million over the forward estimates. 

“These additional staff will take pressure off staff and patients in over-stretched emergency departments, and provide more care for children in our paediatric wards across NSW,” he said.