Queensland Consolidated Acts

HOSPITAL AND HEALTH BOARDS ACT 2011 - SECT 138B

138B Prescription of minimum nurse-to-patient and midwife-to-patient ratios

(1) A regulation may prescribe a requirement about the minimum number of nurses or midwives who must be engaged in delivering a health service according to the number of patients receiving the service.

(2) The regulation—

(a) may apply in relation to the delivery of stated health services—

(i) by stated Services; and

(ii) at stated facilities or parts of facilities; and

(iii) at stated times; and

(iv) in stated circumstances; and

Example—

A regulation may require that, in each surgical ward in a stated public sector hospital, between 7a.m. and 3p.m. each day, there be at least 1 nurse for every 4 patients.

(b) may include a requirement about the skills or qualifications of the nurses or midwives.

(3) For this section, a nurse or midwife is taken to be engaged in delivering a health service only if directly involved in providing care to 1 or more of the patients receiving the service.