A future Labor Government has recommitted to reinstating current nurse-to-patient ratios and fixing any damage done by Premier Baillieu and the Liberal-National Coalition Government, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today.
Ms Tierney joined thousands of nurses, including many from Western Victoria as they marched on Parliament this week to send a clear message to Mr Baillieu and his Health Minister David Davis that nurse-to-patient ratios should not be up for negotiation in enterprise bargaining.
“Nurses and midwives in Geelong and on the surf coast work hard taking care of patients each and every day,” Ms Tierney said.
“Nurse-to-patient ratios are about supporting south west nurses and making sure Victorian patients get quality care.
“The Baillieu Government is determined to undermine nurse-to-patient ratios by replacing nurses and midwives with unregistered and unqualified assistants.
“Labor understands that undermining these ratios will have a detrimental impact on Victorian patients and the care they receive. And we know that nurse-to-patient ratios work.
“Labor Leader Daniel Andrews has committed that a future Andrews Labor Government will reinstate current nurse-to-patient ratios if the Baillieu Government reduces or scraps them entirely.
“We value the work nurses do across the state and that’s why Labor will protect these important workplace conditions.” Ms Tierney said.