Emergency call: we need more nurses per patient

A KEY issue that has been largely overlooked in the health debate is mandated nurse/patient ratios. The high level of MRSA reported in our hospitals brings increased urgency to this topic.

Mandated nurse/patient ratios have a critical role in the provision of safe levels of care in our hospitals.

Mandated ratios means simply that there is a specified number of nurses for a specified number of patients. These ratios are established at levels set by regulation that guarantee safe care and safe nursing practice. This means there are different ratios depending on the needs of the patients in the ward/unit.