Ryan Park sworn in as NSW Health Minister

A former PE teacher who has expressed support for mandated nurse-to-patient ratios in public hospitals has been sworn in as New South Wales' new Health Minister.

Ryan Park, a University of Wollongong graduate and longtime Labor member for Keira, was sworn in at government house last week alongside newly-elected NSW premier Chris Minns.

He said his first point of business would be drafting terms of reference for a royal commission into the state's public health system.

“It’s a priority of mine because it will provide an opportunity to examine how we are allocating precious taxpayers’ dollars," Park said at Liverpool hospital last week.

“Over the coming weeks and months we will finalise the terms of reference and will make sure funding is allocated to commence this important work."

Nearly 100,000 people, including 4000 children, are currently on elective surgery waiting lists in NSW according to the state government.

One in six people are waiting longer for elective surgeries than clinically recommended.

A February report commissioned by the Health Services Union (HSU) said the NSW health system was currently at "breaking point."

The report said that from 2012-13 to 2017-18 there was a 25 per cent increase in preventable admissions to NSW hospitals.

Speaking at his first press conference as premier, Chris Minns said a new surgical task force would be established to audit and implement improvements over the next three months.

Park also wrote on Twitter on March 30 that he would also be meeting with NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant this week to “discuss Covid and other health issues.”

NSW Labor did not commit to implementing nurse-to-patient ratios in public hospitals during the election, despite pressure from the nurses and midwives union.

Labor has campaigned for a staff ratio policy for nurses in two state elections but decided in May not to support an upper house recommendation to mandate increased staffing levels.

Chris Minns said in November that enforcing a minimum number of nurses and midwives per shift would be a more "fiscally responsible plan".

Labor has also promised to recruit an additional 1,200 nurses and midwives over four years on top of the 10,000 extra health staff pledged in the government's budget.

NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said Labor's state election victory would deliver "renewed optimism" among the states nurses and midwives.

“Many nurses and midwives who have reduced their clinical hours, changed roles, or left the profession altogether will be able to look to the future with a sense of hope, while those who have been shouldering the weight of our health system will hopefully be energised again," Candish said.

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