Victorian Numbered Acts

SAFE PATIENT CARE (NURSE TO PATIENT AND MIDWIFE TO PATIENT RATIOS) AMENDMENT ACT 2019 (NO. 1 OF 2019) - SECT 5

    (1)     For section 12(1) and (2) of the Principal Act substitute —

    "(1)     If the actual or expected number of patients in a ward or the number of beds of one of the following categories is not divisible into a whole number following the application of the relevant ratio, the operator of the hospital must ensure that the ward or number of beds is staffed with one additional nurse or midwife (as the case requires) in order to comply with the ratio—

        (a)     on and from the day on which Part 2 of the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Act 2019 comes into operation—

              (i)     on all shifts in level 1 hospitals and level 2 hospitals—

    (A)     a general medical or surgical ward;

    (B)     a coronary care unit;

    (C)     a high dependency unit;

    (D)     an operating theatre;

    (E)     a post-anaesthetic recovery room;

              (ii)     on all shifts in an emergency department in hospitals specified in Part 1 of Schedule 3;

              (iii)     on the night shift in—

    (A)     an emergency department in hospitals specified in Part 2 or 3 of Schedule 3;

    (B)     an emergency department to which section 20(5) applies;

              (iv)     on the night shift in level 3 hospitals—

    (A)     a general medical or surgical ward;

    (B)     a coronary care unit;

    (C)     a high dependency unit;

    (D)     an operating theatre;

    (E)     a post-anaesthetic recovery room;

              (v)     on the night shift in level 4 hospitals—

    (A)     an acute ward;

    (B)     a coronary care unit;

    (C)     a high dependency unit;

    (D)     an operating theatre;

    (E)     a post-anaesthetic recovery room;

              (vi)     on the night shift in an aged high care residential ward in all hospitals;

        (b)     on and from 1 March 2020—

              (i)     on the morning shift in level 3 hospitals—

    (A)     a general medical or surgical ward;

    (B)     a coronary care unit;

    (C)     a high dependency unit;

    (D)     an operating theatre;

    (E)     a post-anaesthetic recovery room;

              (ii)     on the morning shift in level 4 hospitals—

    (A)     an acute ward;

    (B)     a coronary care unit;

    (C)     a high dependency unit;

    (D)     an operating theatre;

    (E)     a post-anaesthetic recovery room;

              (iii)     on the morning shift in—

    (A)     an emergency department in hospitals specified in Part 2 or 3 of Schedule 3;

    (B)     an emergency department to which section 20(5) applies;

              (iv)     on the night shift in all hospitals—

    (A)     a palliative care inpatient unit;

    (B)     a geriatric evaluation management bed;

        (c)     on and from 1 March 2021—

              (i)     on the morning shift in all hospitals—

    (A)     a palliative care inpatient unit;

    (B)     a geriatric evaluation management bed;

    (C)     a rehabilitation bed;

              (ii)     on the afternoon shift in level 3 hospitals—

    (A)     a general medical or surgical ward;

    (B)     a coronary care unit;

    (C)     a high dependency unit;

    (D)     an operating theatre;

    (E)     a post-anaesthetic recovery room;

              (iii)     on the afternoon shift in level 4 hospitals—

    (A)     an acute ward;

    (B)     a coronary care unit;

    (C)     a high dependency unit;

    (D)     an operating theatre;

    (E)     a post-anaesthetic recovery room;

              (iv)     on the afternoon shift in—

    (A)     an emergency department in hospitals specified in Part 2 or 3 of Schedule 3;

    (B)     an emergency department to which section 20(5) applies;

              (v)     on the night shift in all hospitals—

    (A)     a special care nursery;

    (B)     a neonatal intensive care unit;

    (C)     an antenatal ward;

    (D)     a postnatal ward;

    (E)     a birthing suite;

        (d)     on and from 1 March 2022—

              (i)     on the morning shift in all hospitals—

    (A)     a special care nursery;

    (B)     a neonatal intensive care unit;

    (C)     an antenatal ward;

    (D)     a postnatal ward;

    (E)     a birthing suite;

              (ii)     on the afternoon shift in all hospitals—

    (A)     a palliative care inpatient unit;

    (B)     a geriatric evaluation management bed;

    (C)     a rehabilitation bed;

        (e)     on and from 1 March 2023, on the afternoon shift in all hospitals—

              (i)     a special care nursery;

              (ii)     a neonatal intensive care unit;

              (iii)     an antenatal ward;

              (iv)     a postnatal ward;

              (v)     a birthing suite.

    (2)     If on a date in relation to which a ward (other than a nominated mixed ward) or a number of beds is staffed to comply with a ratio for a particular category of ward or bed subsection (1) does not apply to that particular category, the operator is not required to ensure that the ward or number of beds is staffed with an additional nurse or midwife in order to comply with the relevant ratio unless—

        (a)     safe patient care may be compromised if the ward or number of beds is not staffed with the additional nurse or midwife; and

        (b)     the actual or expected number of patients in the ward or the number of beds requires more than 50 per cent of one additional nurse or midwife in order to comply with the ratio.".

    (2)     Section 12(4) of the Principal Act is repealed .