8 June 2022
Buoyed by last week’s health-conscious State Budget, the ANMF (SA Branch) has already begun working with the Malinauskas Government to ensure commitments to a better hospital and aged-care system can be delivered in full.
A workforce plan was one of the key issues raised when ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM and Health Minister Chris Picton met earlier this week.
It follows a commitment to introduce more than 500 extra beds to the health system – 326 hospital and mental health beds across the state’s major hospitals and a further 228 beds when the upgrade and expansion of the Flinders Medical Centre and construction of the new Mount Barker Hospital are complete.
“We were pleased with what featured in last week’s budget – it definitely showed the State Government intends to deliver on its election promises,” Ms Dabars said.
“The ANMF and the Health Minister are now getting on with the job of planning for the future – we will be working together to ensure there is a strong enough nursing workforce to support the introduction of these beds in the future.
“A commitment for this many beds does not come around regularly, so formulating a workplace plan is a welcome challenge.”
An extra $2.4 billion was dedicated to health in the budget and follows ongoing advocacy by the ANMF (SA Branch) to reduce ramping and address a drastic nurses shortage.
As promised at the state election, there’s funding for 300 more nurses, 350 more paramedics and ambulance officers and 101 doctors.
Money will also be spent on the new Mount Barker Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre upgrade and new and upgraded ambulance stations.
“We are optimistic this investment will assist in boosting capacity across the health network and relieve pressure on hospitals and emergency departments,” Ms Dabars.
“Our members can be assured we will be holding the State Government to account with all of these promises and plans.”