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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 251 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 27 October 2021 by Ms L. Mettam

Question Directed to the: Minister for Health
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

(1) How many registered and enrolled nurses took personal leave of one week or more for each of the following years:
(a) 2020-2021;
(b) 2019-2020;
(c) 2018-2019; and
(d) 2017-2018?
(2) For each of the above years, how many:
(a) Returned to work in the same role;
(b) Returned to work in a different role or different workplace within the Department of Health; and
(c) Subsequently resigned from the Department of Health?
(3) For each of the above years, what was the average length of approved personal leave?
(4) How many registered and enrolled nurses are currently on approved personal leave of one week or more?

Answered on 15 February 2022

Department of Health employees are entitled to personal leave for several reasons. Staff may work across multiple Health Service Providers therefore the totals outlined below may not add up due to the distinct count of the employees.

 

(1)(a)-(d) Please refer to the table below for registered and enrolled nurse headcounts and proportions taking one week or more personal leave, by financial year.

 

Financial year

 

 

Enrolled Nurses

Registered Nurses

 

2020-21

1,244

11,782

 

2019-20

1,107

10,624

 

2018-19

1,142

10,481

 

2017-18

1,090

10,120

 

 

Note: One week of personal leave was defined as standard working hours, being five working days at 7.6 hours per day (i.e.: 38 hours total).

 

(2)(a)-(b) The Department of Health does not capture this data centrally. Provision of the information sought by the Member would require a significant amount of research which would divert WA Health staff away from their normal duties. If the Member has a specific inquiry I will endeavour to provide a reply.

(3) Please refer to the table below for average length (in days) of personal leave per headcount (registered and enrolled nurses only) from 2017-18 to 2020-21.

 

Financial year

Average length (in days) of personal leave per headcount

2020-21

11.46

2019-20

10.74

2018-19

10.89

2017-18

11.00

 

(4) WA Health is unable to provide a response to this question, primarily as the length of leave and reasons for requiring personal leave are generally recorded retrospectively in HR systems.