Heath Minister Ewa Kopacz has signed an agreement with the National Union of Nurses and Midwives which guarantees them salary hikes and sets the limits on workloads.

Ewa Kopacz said that nurses will receive 75 percent of the money devoted to pay rises while other health care staff will receive 25 percent. The agreement will come into force on 31 October and will be binding for two years. Dorota Gardias, head of the National Union of Nurses and Midwives said that nurses were satisfied with the agreement.

The health minister also set a limit of twenty patients for a nurse to look after or fifteen patients in neonatal, anesthesiological and surgery wards. The regulation will take effect in August. (mg)