Western Australian nurses and midwives have been left waiting for promised nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios after the state government announced its decision to delay the next major stage of the rollout without setting a new start date.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (WA Branch) said it was extremely disappointed by the decision as it had been looking forward to more than 80 wards across Perth introducing ratios later this month.
It has launched a petition demanding the WA government stop delaying ratios and deliver the safe staffing nurses, midwives and patients were promised.
The rollout had been due to extend ratios to remaining metropolitan emergency departments and dozens of specialist wards, but has now been postponed. The union says it was not consulted about the delay and no revised timeline has been provided.
The setback comes after ratios have progressively been introduced across WA’s public health system over the past three years.
The first pilot began at Perth Children’s Hospital emergency department in July 2023, introducing a minimum of one nurse to three patients, before trials expanded to medical and surgical wards at Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park hospitals in October 2024.
From July 2025, ratios were expanded across metropolitan medical and surgical wards at Perth Children’s, Fiona Stanley, Fremantle, Rockingham General, Armadale, Sir Charles Gairdner, Osborne Park and Royal Perth hospitals.
Those wards operate with a minimum ratio of one nurse to four patients, plus a hands-free shift coordinator, on morning and afternoon shifts, and one nurse to seven patients at night.
A further phase began in February this year, extending ratios into metropolitan critical care areas, including intensive care, coronary care, neonatal and paediatric services. WA Health says ratios are now operating across critical care areas at major hospitals including Fiona Stanley, Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner, Rockingham General and Armadale, as well as Perth Children’s Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital.
ANMF (WA Branch) State Secretary Romina Raschilla said the latest delay was particularly concerning because the union had repeatedly sought greater transparency over the workforce and resources underpinning the rollout.
“The union has consistently asked for greater transparency around the workforce, funding requirements and resources that are being committed to in the ratios implementation,” Ms Raschilla said.
“We cannot meaningfully participate in the process if we do not have all the information, and the government cannot ask nurses and midwives to have confidence and trust in the rollout without being transparent on whether the health system has the resources and workforce to deliver it.”
ANMF (WA Branch) said members had reported that ratios, when properly implemented, improved nurse and midwife wellbeing, patient safety and patient outcomes.
It said the delay was unfair on nurses and midwives already experiencing burnout and stress, who had been relying on the next stage of ratios to provide some relief.
The union has also warned the postponement could have a knock-on effect on the remaining stages of the statewide rollout.
“Nurses and midwives who are overworked, understaffed and burnt out have been holding out for these ratios and now just 11 days before they were hoping to see some relief, they have been delayed by the government without any explanation.”
