The state government has introduced legislation to mandate staffing ratios for nurses and midwives across South Australian public hospitals.

Following consultation with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, the new ratios have been modelled on those in Victoria and prioritise both patient care and safety, and staff wellbeing.

They aim to ensure the nurse-and-midwife-to-patient ratio meets the requirements of differing patient care areas across nursing and midwifery shifts.

Adelaide’s four largest metropolitan hospitals (the Royal Adelaide, Flinders, Lyell McEwin and Women’s and Children’s) will be required to have one nurse for every four patients, along with a nurse in charge, in general medical and surgical wards during morning and afternoon shifts. For night shifts, it will be one nurse for every eight patients with a nurse in charge.

Other hospitals across metropolitan Adelaide, including Modbury, Noarlunga and the Queen Elizabeth, will be required to have the same ratios for morning and night shifts, and one nurse for every five patients with a nurse in charge for afternoon shifts.

Regional sites, such as the Southern Fleurieu Health service, will require one nurse for every five patients with a nurse in charge for morning shifts and one nurse for every six patients with a nurse in charge for afternoon shifts. A night shift will require one nurse for every ten patients with a nurse in charge.

In a coronary care unit, the ratio will become one nurse for every two patients and one for every three overnight, regardless which hospital they are in.

An antenatal ward will require one midwife for every four patients and one for every six patients overnight, across all public hospitals.

Health Minister Chris Picton says the state government has recruited more than 1460 additional nurses since being elected which will help with the new staffing ratios.

The bill is expected to pass through the Parliament and be enacted as legislation before the end of this year, with a start early in 2026. 

The legislation will cover specified patient care areas in the public health system. It will not apply to private hospitals or private aged care providers.

Planning for implementing the ratios has already begun, with a two-year rollout period to allow local health networks to reconfigure staffing and recruit where required.