Budget 2023 debate: Louis Ng on improving support for nurses
Nurses are resigning “en masse” despite higher pay, because what they really need is better work-life balance and support to avoid burnout, said MP Louis Ng. In Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 22), he presented three recommendations to the Government. First, regulate rest time for nurses between shifts, similar to what has been done for airline crew, as fatigue management is critical not just for their well-being but also for patient safety. Second, work with hospitals to ensure that nurses’ rest time during shifts is protected. Third, provide ancillary staff to help with customer service and administrative duties so that nurses can focus on clinical work. He also emphasised that the stated ratio of one nurse to four or five patients in public hospitals must be enforced as it is “far, far” from the reality on the ground.
Nurses are resigning “en masse” despite higher pay, because what they really need is better work-life balance and support to avoid burnout, said MP Louis Ng. In Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 22), he presented three recommendations to the Government. First, regulate rest time for nurses between shifts, similar to what has been done for airline crew, as fatigue management is critical not just for their well-being but also for patient safety. Second, work with hospitals to ensure that nurses’ rest time during shifts is protected. Third, provide ancillary staff to help with customer service and administrative duties so that nurses can focus on clinical work. He also emphasised that the stated ratio of one nurse to four or five patients in public hospitals must be enforced as it is “far, far” from the reality on the ground.
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