Health worker shortage puts pressure on services

MEMBER for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson has welcomed the NSW Government’s $7.2 million investment in an allied health pilot, while calling for greater investment in nursing education, training and workforce support to meet the growing needs of an ageing population.

Mrs Thompson said the investment was a positive step, but more needed to be done to address the workforce shortages placing pressure on hospitals, aged care services and families across regional NSW.

“We know our population is ageing, and we have known for years that demand for health and aged care services would continue to grow,” Mrs Thompson said.

“Yet we are still seeing nurses and aged care workers under enormous pressure, hospitals struggling with capacity, and older patients remaining in hospital because the right care and support is simply not available elsewhere.

“The allied health pilot is a welcome investment, but we also need to make sure we have the nurses and other health professionals needed to deliver that care.

“We need to be training more nurses, making nursing education more accessible and doing more to support the experienced nurses we already have in the workforce.”

The Enhanced Allied Health pilot will support up to 330 older people each year, providing access to physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, speech pathologists and social workers.

The program is designed to help older people recover safely at home, maintain their independence and avoid unnecessary or prolonged hospital stays.

Mrs Thompson said the focus on keeping older people out of hospital was important but would only succeed if there were sufficient services and skilled workers available in the community.

“In regional communities, we know how difficult it can be to attract and retain qualified healthcare professionals,” Mrs Thompson said.

“We need to give more people the opportunity to choose nursing as a career, whether they are leaving school, returning to study or looking for a career change.

“And we need to support the nurses who are already doing the job. They are carrying enormous workloads and we cannot continue to rely on them to simply do more with less.”

Mrs Thompson said a lack of appropriate aged care options was also contributing to pressure on public hospitals, with older patients sometimes staying in hospital long after they were medically ready to leave.

“Hospital beds need to be available for people who require acute medical care,” she said.

“When an older person is medically ready to leave hospital but there is nowhere appropriate for them to go, it puts pressure on the patient, their family, our nurses and the entire hospital system.

“We need to make sure the right care is available at the right time and in the right place.”

With locations expected to be confirmed in the coming months Mrs Thompson said regional communities such as those across the Myall Lakes electorate must not be overlooked as the Government rolls out the new initiatives.

“I will continue advocating for Myall Lakes to receive its fair share of healthcare services, training opportunities and workforce investment.

“Our older Australians deserve to age with dignity and have access to the care they need, regardless of where they live.”