When appropriately delivered, this investment will contribute towards future healthcare workforce sustainability in Victoria’s emergency departments (EDs). It will also provide desperately needed support to current healthcare workers in EDs and help more Victorians to get the emergency care they need, when and where they need it.
The College urges the government to ensure that the positive workforce impacts from this investment are distributed equitably across the state, with particular focus on rural, regional, and remote areas, which are experiencing the healthcare workforce crisis most significantly.
As nurses are the experts in nursing care, they must be genuinely engaged in implementation of this policy, and any other policies designed to improve workforce engagement and sustainability.
ACEM has spoken extensively on the challenges facing Victoria’s healthcare system and the workforce challenges facing EDs nationwide, particularly a lack of senior nursing staff.
The forthcoming Victorian state election offers an opportunity for the collaborative development of policies to advance and integrate Victoria’s struggling healthcare system.
ACEM urges political parties contesting the state election to work with the College, and other frontline healthcare stakeholders, in the creation of long and short-term solutions aimed at improving safety and patient flow in the acute health system.
ACEM Victorian Chair Dr Belinda Hibble said, “The Victorian Government’s $270 million towards training and upskilling nurses and midwives is an excellent step towards rebuilding the state’s depleted healthcare workforce, and a step that will make emergency departments safer, for everyone.”
“In the lead up to the Victorian election, we encourage all parties to collaborate with healthcare stakeholders on policies that address the shortfalls in staff and resources and improve patient flow in Victoria’s emergency departments and health care system, now and into the future.”
“Victoria’s emergency doctors will publicly support evidence-based health policies and investments that are considered, compassionate and collaborative.”
Background:
ACEM is the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand, responsible for training emergency physicians and advancement of professional standards. www.acem.org.au
Media Contact:
Melissa Howard [email protected] + 61 427 621 857