Outstanding nurses and midwives will be recognised for their tireless work with nominations now open for the fifth annual Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard today marked International Nurses Day by encouraging anyone who knows of a top nurse or midwife to nominate them.
“I encourage community members, patients and colleagues to put forward any nurse or midwife working in the public health system who has made a real difference to the lives and experiences of their patients,” said Mr Hazzard.
“The NSW Government is right behind our nurses and midwives, expanding the workforce by an extra 6280 since March 2011 – representing a 14 per cent increase.
“We now employ a record 49,900 nurses and midwives and I want to personally thank each and every one of them for their tireless dedication and compassion.
“We have also recruited a record 2200 nursing and midwifery graduates this year, a quarter of them in rural and regional NSW.”
The NSW Government has committed $120 million in 2016-2017 for 900 additional nurses, doctors, allied health and other hospital staff to support the increasing patient demand for health services.
Another $9.8 million has been committed to recruiting 65 more specialist nurses and midwives and 30 clinical support officers for nurses and midwifery services.
NSW Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Jacqui Cross also paid tribute to the state’s nurses and midwives.
“I wholeheartedly thank our nurses and midwives for providing quality, patient- centred care and making a difference for people in our communities,” Ms Cross said.
Nominations close on Friday 9 June 2017. For more information, please refer to Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.