Nursing reports

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 15 September 2020

More than 3400 primary health care nurses and medical receptionists/administrators across more than 500 general practices and accident and medical centres will stop work for two hours nationwide on Wednesday 30 September (10am-12 Noon).

This will be the second round of stop work meetings for NZNO members covered by the Primary Health Care Multi-Employer Collective Agreement. An earlier round occurred on 23 July and a one-day strike took place on 3 September.

Negotiations with employers have been reserved for 28 September in the hope that progress will be made towards pay parity with equally qualified colleagues who work in DHBs.

The stop work meetings are planned as either a report back from those resumed negotiations (if they have resumed) or to discuss and confirm next steps if no progress has been made.

NZNO Primary Health Care members will also be wearing camellias to work on Friday 18 September on the eve of Suffrage Day, which is 19 September. This will be to highlight that it is 127 years since women won the right to vote – but they still have not achieved equal pay for work of equal value.

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 3 September 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is sad to see the departure of Margareth Broodkoorn as the Ministry of Health’s Chief Nursing Officer, and wishes her well in her new role as CEO of the Hokianga Health Community Trust.

NZNO Chief Executive Memo Musa says Ms Broodkoorn, believed to be the first Chief Nursing Officer of Māori descent, brought a true cultural understanding towards strengthening nursing workforce planning, supporting advances in nursing practice and models of care – and she had the urgency to further drive the safe staffing agenda.

“Within her time in the role I have really admired this approach, and it was a pleasure to work with someone so dedicated to the wellbeing of the nursing workforce.

“There are many challenges facing the nursing profession. She recognised this, and the many view points from across the nursing profession. And while we did not always agree on everything she showed leadership commitment to work together to face challenges.

“In particular I acknowledge her role as leader of the Nursing Accord Co-ordination Group, and her infection prevention and control work, especially the use of PPE across the health and disability system. She was also key in assisting the sector to gain 100 percent employment of new nursing graduates, and a champion of the Enrolled Nurse-Supported-into Practice Programme with funding being approved in Budget 2019 to support implementation of these key initiatives.”

Mr Musa said NZNO worked closely with Ms Broodkoorn on a number of issues including planning and celebration for 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife and on collating Aotearoa New Zealand information for the World Health Organizations’s State of the World Nursing Report.

“I will miss working with Ms Broodkoorn and, as an organisation, NZNO will miss her as a strong advocate for nursing. We wish her all the best in her next endeavours.”

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 1 September 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation confirms that the Primary Health Care (PHC) worker strike scheduled for eight hours on 3 September will go ahead after mediation with employers, held today, failed to reach a resolution.

The strike will include around 3200 Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses and receptionist/administration staff across more than 500 general practices and accident/medical centres nationwide who want pay parity with their colleagues working in DHBs.

NZNO Industrial Advisor for the PHC Sector Chris Wilson said this situation was simply not good enough considering negotiations have been going on for nearly a year.

“We have been informed there have been discussions occurring in recent weeks about pay parity at a Government level, but nothing tangible has yet been forthcoming, and we will now proceed with industrial action as planned.”

She said additional Government funding would need to be provided quickly to PHC employers if a resolution is to be reached.

“The Government has known about the urgency of pay parity in PHC for at least a year, and to not pull out all stops to address the serious PHC recruitment and retention issues is beyond belief.

“Our members and their communities need to see this challenge averted so a quality, safe and accessible primary health care service can continue.”

Ms Wilson said the priority now should be the parties meeting again as soon as possible after the strike and that they be enabled by the Government to come to a resolution.

“Pay parity has been costed at $15m and, in the context of the whole health sector, there is no reason this has to wait. The acknowledged value of our members’ work should mean we do not need to consider taking industrial action to have that recognised.”

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 28 August 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says mediation, scheduled for 1 September, is the last chance to resolve the impasse that has led to scheduled strike action on 3 September.

NZNO issued a strike notice covering some 3200 Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses and receptionist/administration staff across more than 500 practices and accident/medical centres nationwide on 19 August.

However, NZNO Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson says additional Government funding will need to be provided quickly to Primary Health Care (PHC) employers if a resolution is to be reached.

“Our PHC members have had enough of constantly hearing how valuable they are when absolutely no effort is being made to show that value in any tangible way.

“They hear themselves praised at daily press conferences as part of a ‘dedicated and responsive COVID-19 workforce’, and then they hear the Government saying their pay is not its problem.”

Ms Wilson says the Government’s claim that it does not get involved in private sector negotiations is unhelpful and has not been our experience.

“Hon Chris Hipkins, as Minister of Education, authorised additional funding as recently as May for the recruitment and retention of Early Childhood Education teachers, despite them being private sector workplaces.

“Our situation is no different as PHC nurse recruitment and retention issues are at an all-time high. Our members just want to be paid the same as their DHB colleagues and a mere $15 million is all that is required.”

NZNO and employer advocates the NZ Medical Association and Green Cross Health have approached the Ministry of Health and Government on several occasions seeking intervention to end this pay inequity at a time when PHC members are again at the forefront of the national COVID-19 response.

"If the political will is there we could achieve a resolution without the strike needing to occur, but we are down to the wire now and its very disappointing nothing tangible has been forthcoming.

“We need the Government to urgently do the right thing for the people who help save lives during the perilous time of a pandemic. That would be in the interests of everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand right now."

Ms Wilson said PHC members do understand the implications of a strike during a pandemic, and that NZNO is in the process of confirming a protocol with the employer representatives if it is deemed patient safety is at risk in terms of the management of urgent/emergency care during the strike.

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 27 August 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s (NZNO’s) College of Emergency Nurses (CENNZ) says the de-valuing of the nursing role evident in recent moves by the Canterbury DHB (CDHB) are deeply worrying, and that all New Zealanders should be concerned.

College Chair Dr Sandy Richardson says the loss of key personnel from the DHB such as Director of Nursing Mary Gordon, and the DHB Board’s decision to prioritise deficit management will have significant health effects.

“We’re looking at an anticipated $13 million cut in nursing staff costs. The willingness to target nursing whenever money needs saving is long-standing and shows a lack of awareness that patient safety is reduced when the number of nurses and skill mix is lower than required to meet patient need.

“It’s a failure to comprehend what nurses actually do and how vital their role is.”  

Dr Richardson said CDHB is unique in that Canterbury, the West Coast, Kaikoura and Marlborough have experienced ongoing and cumulative crises and disasters over the past decades, which have had a significant impact on the health system, the health workforce and community. 

“The ongoing effects of these remain in terms of physical, emotional and psychological reminders for people in these areas, and the health system has suffered financial, structural and institutional wounds – and now we have COVID-19. 

“Throughout this, nurses have continued to work effectively and efficiently, and to maximise savings.  There is no fat left to cut.  A nursing shortage already looms due to its ageing workforce, but the Board plans to reduce the number of new graduates being employed.”

Dr Richardson said the loss of important clinical voices and institutional knowledge resulting from the mass resignations is reminiscent of the 1998 Stent report which made 112 recommendations related to Canterbury Health. The investigation came after multiple warnings from clinical staff and professional organisations.

“Then Health and Disability Commissioner Robyn Stent recognised the damage done by cost cutting and loss of clinical expertise. Her report validated the warning letter sent by concerned staff ‘Patients are dying’. 

“This was centred on Christchurch Hospital and should be a reminder of the worst that can occur; but this seems to have slipped from the Board’s collective memory.”

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

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) expresses extreme concern and alarm following the resignations of executive staff at Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB), most recently Mary Gordon, the Executive Director of Nursing, and Dr Sue Nightingale, the Chief Medical Officer.

NZNO Chief Executive Memo Musa warns that a mass exodus from the executive leadership team, which now includes clinical leaders, is a sign of a DHB spiralling into a crisis.

"The DHB is going through significant clinical service developments which will be delivered in new and redeveloped hospital facilities, and which will require good and effective and engagement with staff. To have senior clinical leaders resign at this pivotal time is deeply problematic."

Whatever has been unfolding for the executive leadership team appears to be untenable and has obviously led to tensions with the DHB Board.

"The Board should be extremely concerned and mindful of potential risk to slower progression of the planned services improvements, as well as the impact on relationships with staff, unions and professional associations, but more so the impact on the health outcomes for the people of Canterbury," said Mr Musa.

Staff at the DHB and the community of Canterbury will feel the loss from the resignations of such key and senior people who have steered the DHB services and engaged with staff through some difficult times over the past few years.

NZNO particularly wishes to acknowledge Mary Gordon’s leadership during very challenging times including the earthquakes, mosque massacre, and now the covid19 pandemic. She is recognised as a nurse leader not only in the Canterbury region, but nationally and internationally.

She, and others in the executive, helped to maintain a constructive relationship with NZNO, worked hard to engage with our members and pushed for inclusion of nursing at the decision making table. Their loss will be acutely felt in the region and nationally.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 18 August 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) will issue a strike notice tomorrow covering some 3200 Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses and receptionist/administration staff across more than 500 practices and accident/medical centres nationwide.

The one-day strike is set for 3 September, but NZNO Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson says there is still time and opportunity to resolve the situation.

“Our PHC members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the strike and that’s a clear indication of their frustration and disappointment after nine months of fruitless negotiations.

“PHC nurses just want to be paid the same as their DHB colleagues. An experienced nurse earns 10.6 percent less ($7,651 per annum) than a hospital nurse, and some on the medical receptionist/administration scale earn lower than the living wage.

“It would take very little for the Government to resolve this issue and properly value the amazing work these people do in providing expert care in the community – demonstrated so clearly in the COVID-19 response.”

Ms Wilson says members are fully aware that there have been changes to COVID-19 alert levels and have not taken this action lightly. NZNO will be open to discussing issues of patient safety as may be raised by the employers.

“The strike ballot was already well underway when alert levels shifted. We have been endeavouring to resolve this matter for far too long and members have simply had enough.”

Ms Wilson says PHC employers have been very clear they need pay parity with DHBs so they can keep their staff and maintain quality care, but they say funding from the Government is inadequate to do this.

NZNO and employer advocates the NZ Medical Association and Green Cross Health have approached the Ministry of Health and Government on several occasions seeking intervention to end this pay inequity at a time when PHC members are again at the forefront of the national COVID-19 response.

“If the political will is there we can achieve a resolution without the strike needing to occur, and that would be in the interests of everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand right now,” Ms Wilson says.

“NZNO is willing to meet at any time to resolve this. All we need is for the Government to do the right thing for the people who help save lives during the perilous time of a pandemic.”

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 4 August 2020

More than 3400 Primary Health Care nurses and medical receptionists/administrators across more than 500 practices and accident and medical centres will commence a ballot for strike action today.

The ballot will run until Wednesday 12 August and is for a complete withdrawal of labour for eight hours on 3 September.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson says this has never happened before in these primary health care workplaces and is a clear indication of the frustration workers feel after nine months of fruitless negotiations.

Ms Wilson said an experienced nurse covered by the Primary Health Care multi-employer collective agreement (PHC MECA) is currently paid 10.6 percent less than their DHB colleague with the same qualifications, skills and experience.

"This is completely unjust and undervalues the amazing work these nurses do in providing expert care in the community – demonstrated so clearly in the COVID-19 response."

She also said there are steps on the medical receptionist/admin scale that do not even meet the living wage.

But Ms Wilson said this was not your usual union versus employer dispute.

“Employers have been very clear they also want pay parity with DHBs so they can keep their staff and continue delivery of a quality primary health care service. However their funding from Government is completely inadequate.

“This is despite approaches to ex-Health Minister David Clark, the Ministry of Health and DHB officials by both NZNO and employer advocates the NZ Medical Association and Green Cross Health.

"Resolving this really comes down to political will, and our members’ patience has just about run out. Budget 2020 put an extra $3.92 billion into DHBs over the next four years, whereas pay parity for PHC nurses would cost just $15 million.”

Ms Wilson said that NZNO members see new funding being allocated elsewhere every day, and that they are wondering what has to happen for Government to appropriately value the Primary Health Care sector as the front door of our health service.

“They are very disappointed and angry that they have been forced into considering strike action.”

Three weeks ago NZNO wrote to Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield indicating it would truly be a lost opportunity if this pay disparity was not urgently addressed and seeking support for the necessary additional funding to enable the PHC MECA to be settled as soon as possible without further frustration, discontent and disruption.

This week NZNO will contact the relevant Ministers and the Prime Minister to make the case again for improved Government funding.

“Common sense needs to prevail so we can avoid the need for any strike action,” Ms Wilson said.

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 22 July 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and E tū, with the support of Grey Power, launched an online open letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday pushing for mandatory minimum staffing numbers of nurses and caregivers in relation to resident numbers in the aged care sector.

Actions to support the nationwide #safestaffingnow campaign will also be taking place around the country in the coming weeks.

NZNO member and Registered Nurse Jean Al-Daghestani says not having enough staff with the right skills to care for increasingly frail and dependant residents is unsafe and unacceptable. 

“The reality for those of us working in aged care is that we just don’t have enough time to do what we know is best for our residents. This takes an incredible toll on our emotional wellbeing as front line workers.

“As a society we need to value our older citizens more, and the Government’s commitment to this call is crucial for change – regardless of who leads us after the election.”

In 2010, Labour recommended compulsory minimum staffing guidelines and referred to the sector as ‘desperate for a revolution’.

Recommendations from the Human Rights Commission report Caring Counts, published in 2012, included the voluntary standard “Indicators for safe aged-care and dementia-care for consumers” becoming compulsory (rather than mere guidelines) to ensure the protection of both carers and older people.

However, Ms Al-Daghestani says 10 years on, the Health & Disability Services Core Sector Standards do not include mandatory staffing regulations.”

“There is ample research showing the benefits of the right number of staff on duty: reduced falls and injuries, reduced medication errors and far better outcomes for our most frail senior residents. Unsafe aged care staffing is a therefore poor reflection on all of us.” 

NZNO Industrial Advisor Lesley Harry says the sector’s profit-driven model is to blame because understaffing reduces costs at the expense of quality care. 

“The health needs of our most vulnerable seniors must be an integral part of the health sector not its poor cousin. Past government confidence in employers’ voluntary compliance with outdated and inadequate staffing requirements is no longer sustainable and is completely at odds with the current government’s compassionate and kind image.”

NZNO is encouraging New Zealanders to share and sign the open letter to Jacinda Ardern at https://www.together.org.nz/safestaffingnow.

Recommendations from the Human Rights Commission report Caring Counts published in 2012 included the voluntary standard “Indicators for safe aged-care and dementia-care for consumers” becoming compulsory (rather than mere guidelines) to ensure the protection of both carers and older people.

The #safestaffingnow campaign was launched at Woburn House, 57 Wai-iti Crescent, Lower Hutt on Tuesday 21 July at 3.30pm.

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 6 July 2020

More than 3400 primary health care nurses and medical receptionists/administrators across more than 500 practices and accident and medical centres will stop work for two hours nationwide on Thursday 23 July after mediation to settle their multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) negotiations failed.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson says this has not happened before in these primary health care workplaces and is a clear indication of the frustration workers feel after eight months of fruitless negotiations.

“It’s not surprising employers have not increased their offer to one that our members could accept because their funding from Government is completely inadequate. Employers have been very clear that they also want pay parity with DHBs so they can keep their staff and continue delivery of a quality primary health care service.”

Ms Wilson said an experienced nurse covered by the Primary Health Care MECA is currently paid 10.6 percent less than their DHB colleague with the same qualifications, skills and experience.

"This is completely unjust and undervalues the amazing work these nurses do in providing expert care in the community – demonstrated so clearly in the COVID-19 response."

She said this was not your usual union versus employer dispute.

“Owners, doctors and managers are also disappointed that Government funding for pay parity has not been forthcoming. This is despite approaches to ex-Health Minister David Clark, the Ministry of Health and DHB officials by both NZNO and employer advocates the NZ Medical Association and Green Cross Health.”

Ms Wilson said the recently released Health and Disability System Review Report was clear that primary health care nurses should expect pay parity, and that ex-Health Minister David Clark acknowledged there was a disparity as recently as a month ago.

“Resolving this really comes down to political will, and our members’ patience has just about run out. Budget 2020 put an extra $3.92 billion into DHBs over the next four years, whereas pay parity for PHC nurses would cost a mere $15 million.

“Last week $15 million was promised to assist completing the Christchurch Coastal Pathway. Our members are wondering what has to happen for Government to appropriately value them and the Primary Health sector as the frontline of our health service.

“Without additional funding, recruitment and retention issues will only be solved by passing additional costs on to the consumers. This is not a responsible solution and clearly not in the interests of communities."

Ms Wilson said NZNO will be contacting the Chief Nursing Officer, Director General of Health, relevant Ministers and the Prime Minister this week to make the case again for improved Government funding.

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