Labor candidate for the Kiama by-election Katelin McInerney has announced Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital and Shellharbour Hospital will be boosting the number of nurses in their emergency departments to meet Safe Staffing Levels as part of the NSW Government's delivery of staffing reform.

More than 28 full-time nurses will be recruited for Shoalhaven with around 15 nurses for Shellharbour's emergency department to be added.

McInerney said the staffing boost will enable the rostering of a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied ED resuscitation beds on all shifts, and one nurse to three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay unit beds on all shifts.

The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce was established to oversee the rollout of 2480 positions over four years.

Health Minister Ryan Park said the Safe Staffing Levels program was complemented by the Government:

• funding the equivalent of 1,112 FTE nurse and midwife positions on an ongoing basis
• abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers
• adding 500 paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.

“Safe Staffing Levels is one of the most significant reforms in the way our hospitals have been staffed in decades," Park said.

“This is about delivering safer, better care for patients, while making sure our nurses have the support, they need on every shift.

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering the health investments our communities need and deserve after more than a decade of inaction from the former Liberal government.”

McInerney said the government was committed to delivering more nurses for the Kiama electorate.

"I am thrilled both Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital and Shellharbour Hospital are on track to introduce Safe Staffing ratios for nurses in the Emergency Department," she said.

“This major reform from the Minns Labor Government will support the delivery of care to patients and support our hardworking frontline health staff."

Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said she was "incredibly excited" about the improved service delivery while South Coast MP Liza Butler added that this announcement would be a major boost to Shoalhaven Hospital.

“This important reform aims to provide better support to our hardworking frontline health staff and more timely, personalised care to the community here in the Shoalhaven," Butler said.