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 Cranbourne District, Jude Perera MP said today. Mr Perera joined thousands of nurses, including many from our local area as they marched on Parliament today 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 from our local area work hard taking care of patients each and every day,” Mr Perera said. “Nurse-to-patient ratios are about supporting our local 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.”