9 June 2006

Safe Staffing Committee Report Expected to Make Lasting Improvements

NZNO Chief Executive Geoff Annals and DHB Chief Executive Jim Green have today welcomed the report of the DHB/NZNO Safe Staffing and Healthy Workplaces Committee of Inquiry.

“The Committee was set up at the conclusion of DHB bargaining last year in response to NZNO concerns about the impact of nursing workloads on patients and staff,” said Jim Green.

The report of the committee’s work and its recommendations for addressing staffing issues now will go to DHB CEOs and NZNO members employed in DHBs for endorsement, and then implementation.

“We are confident that, when these recommendations are implemented, they will make a real difference to patient safety and the safety of the nursing and midwifery workforce,” said Geoff Annals.

The endorsement process will be completed by the middle of July. Following this process, the report will be launched formally.

ENDS

View Report here