New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 7 December 2018

The New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO) supports the Association of Senior Medical Specialists’ (ASMS’s) call for safer staffing conditions for senior doctors and dentists working in public hospitals. It also agrees that district health boards (DHBs) and the Ministry of Health must become more actively involved to help make this happen – supported by the Government.

“Specialists in public hospitals often work long hours under stressful conditions because there aren’t enough staff to meet patient needs,” said NZNO Chief Executive Memo Musa.

“They are frequently over-tired or unwell themselves, but continue to work because of their dedication and good will. The levels of job dissatisfaction and rates of burnout reported by the ASMS are concerning. These conditions are not optimal for providing care and treatment to people needing hospital-based care.”

Memo Musa also agreed that high specialist workloads have been caused by the previous Government’s under-funding of the public health system.

“The previous Government’s years of neglect have been the main contributor to the sad and dangerous situation we find ourselves in. Therefore action must be taken to improve staffing levels for public health specialists who have the same right to safe and productive working environments as anybody else.”

Memo Musa urged the DHBs, Ministry of Health and the ASMS to start working together supported by Government to find a way forward, because what is happening now is unsustainable and will only contribute to poor health for New Zealanders.

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Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.