The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is mystified by John Keys statement during TVNZ leader’s debate, that there are 1,500 new nurses in the health system.

“There is no evidence that there has been an increase in nurses in public hospitals at all. We have seen no meaningful data and nurses continue to struggle to provide exceptional care in very difficult circumstances,” says NZNO industrial adviser, Lesley Harry.

“Not enough nurses means that safe staffing and healthy workplaces are unattainable. The main reason nurses recently rejected an offer to settle their collective agreement is because it failed to adequately address staffing levels.”

“NZNO members in public hospitals report to us on a daily basis that they are short-staffed and under-resourced. For example, Hutt valley DHB recently disestablished two important senior roles.”

“This government is saying that they have increased nursing capability by over 1,500. We challenge them to prove exactly where these additional nurses are – we certainly haven’t seen evidence of them in public hospitals,” Harry says.

“Show us the nurses, John Key!”

ENDS