The Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest is now the subject of two investigations amid mounting concerns over staffing levels and overall operational performance.
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The NSW Health’s Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce has launched a “safe staffing” inquiry to examine whether the hospital meets minimum nurse-to-patient ratios as mandated for public hospitals.
This probe comes as the independent member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan, has intensified calls for the government to ensure proper frontline public health services are being delivered at the facility.
Concurrently, the NSW Audit Office has initiated a “performance audit” to assess if the hospital is providing publicly-funded health services transparently, efficiently and effectively under the public-private partnership agreement.
Northern Beaches Hospital operates under a $600 million annual contract with private operator Healthscope to provide 250 public patient beds until 2038 – an arrangement made by the previous state government.
Regan said he pushed for the comprehensive review after community complaints about cuts to mental health beds, long emergency department wait times and “unacceptable pressure on staff.” Staffing issues have reportedly intensified recently, with reductions in emergency, mental health and security personnel since June 2023.
He said in Parliament that doctors and nurse representatives say there are not enough staff and that new staff lack experience and that staff turnover is too high. He also cited a workplace survey showing half of the nurses were in “high or very high states of psychological distress.”
Health Minister Ryan Park emphasised that whilst concerning, the hospital’s operations remain Healthscope’s responsibility under the contract. Healthscope has acknowledged financial pressures but stated its “absolute priority is providing high quality and safe clinical care.”
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The dual probes aim to scrutinise staffing adequacy and overall efficiency in delivering public health services at the controversial public-private partnership hospital.
Published 30-May-2024
