Nursing reports

Media Release 22 September 2017 - NZNO Award – Services to Nursing and Midwifery 2017

This year there are two recipients of the NZNO Services to Nursing and Midwifery Award. Dr Helen Snell and Pepe Sinclair. NZNO President Grant Brookes presented the awards at the Annual Conference at Te Papa this week.

Dr Helen Snell has had a long and distinguished career as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner. She is a strong advocate for diabetes nurses and online learning programmes for primary health care nurses.

“Dr Helen Snell was New Zealand’s first nurse practitioner diabetes and related conditions. Her contribution to nursing knowledge of diabetes is very significant and she was a crucial lead for Health Workforce NZ diabetes workforce review. She was instrumental in the launch of e-learning diabetes programme for health professionals,” Grant Brookes says.

Pepe Sinclair has worked for many years as a mental health nurse, has been involved in national and international research on mental health, wellbeing and nursing workloads.

“She is lecturer and a passionate advocate for better health outcomes for Pacific people. This award goes to a mother, grandmother and great grandmother born in Rakahanga Cook Islands,” Grant Brookes said.

“A warm congratulations to Pepe Sinclair and Dr Helen Snell.”

Media Release 20 September 2017, Embargo: 8pm - NZNO Young Nurse of the Year 2017

The 2017 Young Nurse of the Year was announced at last night’s NZNO Annual Conference dinner at Te Papa and went to Jess Tiplady, Nurse Practitioner from Auckland.  Jess Tiplady works at the Greenstone Family Clinic, Auckland.

NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku, presenting the award, said Jess Tiplady is of Māori descent and is currently the youngest Māori nurse to have achieved nurse practitioner status in New Zealand.

Jess Tiplady works in primary care and provides eczema and asthma clinics, which are free for children under 13 years of age.

“This year’s award winner is a great example of a nurse making a positive contribution to health outcomes for New Zealand children living in poverty,” Kerri Nuku said. 

“The impact on families living in overcrowded houses with the associated infection, itch and discomfort of eczema, loss of sleep and potential for hospitalisation is significant. Ms Tiplady has contributed to the development of a regional skin infection management programme and supports initiatives to improve child health outcomes including breast feeding and immunisation rates.

“Her work has also led to a reduction of admissions to hospital for children with respiratory and skin infections in South Auckland,” Kerri Nuku said.

The purpose and criteria for the Young Nurse of the Award is to recognise and celebrate the often exemplary work of nurses in the younger age group and to encourage younger nurses to demonstrate their commitment to the nursing profession. The nurse shows compassion or courage beyond what is expected in their role as a nurse and has improved care or health outcomes for their patients through their commitment to care, leadership, research or quality.

“I also warmly congratulate runner up Dana Smith from Dunedin Hospital general surgery. She was nominated by her colleagues for her work in the community with children with Crohns disease including volunteering at their annual camps,” Kerri Nuku said.

The judging panel consisted of: Representative from Otago University (Young Nurse of the Year Award sponsor), previous year’s award winner/s, Chief Nurse or representative, Ministry of Health NZNO President, NZNO Kaiwhakahaere.

Media Release

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

NZNO Award of Honour 2017

At last night’s Annual Conference Awards Dinner, the NZNO Award of Honour was presented. The award is granted biennially. The nomination for Kerri Nuku met the criteria for the award. Ms Nuku was presented with the award of honour last night by NZNO President Grant Brookes.

Grant Brookes pointed out that since the constitutional change to the Kaiwhakahaere role came into effect in 2013 Kerri Nuku has undertaken and developed the co-leadership role. 

“She has taken NZNO on a journey towards a greater understanding of the bicultural partnership, the importance of tikanga and preserving the mana of all members,” Grant Brookes said.

“Kerri Nuku’s work on an international level for indigenous nurses in particular and her submissions to parliament on a number of issues have really had an impact,” Grant Brookes said when he presenting the award.
 

“In her role as Kaiwhakahaere for Te Rūnanga within NZNO, last month Kerri led a hikoi in Auckland to call out to the Government to bring about pay equity for Māori nurses in iwi health provider settings. This was a proud moment for Te Rūnanga in particular.
 

 “Her dedication to NZNO regionally, nationally, internationally, and in particular to the needs and aspiration of Maori workforce has earned the admiration and respect of members throughout the organisation and I warmly congratulate her on the award of honour,” Grant Brookes said.

Media Release                                                                23 August 2017         

Government ED Targets nothing to celebrate

Yesterday, the NZNO College of Emergency Nurses NZ (CENNZ) were outraged to read the Minister of Health claiming the Emergency Department (ED) health targets are a great success when nurses know the discharge and transfer from ED within 6 hours, to meet targets in the context of an underfunded health system, can cost lives and careers.

Associate Professional Services Manager, Hilary Graham-Smith says the targets need to be re-examined and nurses consulted. The higher needs of older New Zealanders, more complexity of need and a couple of particularly bad winters have meant that staff in ED have felt they are compromising quality of care and patient safety and, are facing a staff shortage crisis. (https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/targeted-approach-health-saving-lives.)

“The DHBs were underfunded again through Budget 2017 by over $100 million. This results in care rationing, staff burn-out, high staff turnover and ultimately, leads to inadequate care of New Zealanders in our hospitals, Hilary Graham-Smith said.

Chairperson of CENNZ, Rick Forster says he hears that the occupancy of EDs are often well over 100 per cent and says there is additional difficulty admitting patients to the wards due to hospital beds being full.

“When ED’s full we can’t close the doors, so more patients are ending up in corridors. There comes a tipping point where care is rationed and risk of harm increases,” he said.

Backing his statement, Hilary Graham-Smith says, “Extended periods in ED waiting rooms, patients waiting in ambulances and on trolleys in corridors, is not what New Zealanders deserve. Nurses need to be able to provide safe and effective care that is of a high standard, and the time to do that should not be constrained by a national target. The stress of care rationing on nurses is unacceptable to the nursing profession and NZNO.

 “Just last week we read about a Northland man who died because he was moved out of ED to elsewhere specifically to meet the national targets set by the Government when he had a heart condition needing further assessment. This Government target was a contributing factor to a man’s death and trumpeting the targets the following week of this news is inappropriate,” Hilary Graham-Smith said.

ENDS.

Media Release                                                                                    22 August 2017

More primary healthcare needed

NZNO welcomes proposed new initiatives from the current National-led Government to improve healthcare access to disadvantaged New Zealanders, but Associate Professional Services Manager Hilary Graham-Smith cautions against exaggerating expected uptake of schemes that involve the Community Services Card.

“More families on low incomes being able to pay less for adult GP visits is welcome as is the extra help for families in high housing cost areas,” Hilary Graham-Smith said.

“Extending the access to the Community Services Card to more people does not particularly result in a greater take-up of cheaper GP visits because the complicated process to get a Community Services Card is off-putting and there is a stigma associated with having a card like this, so many don’t bother getting one.

“While the fee cap for Community Service Card holders is excellent, it is an exaggeration to claim that this will actually result in a lot more people seeking out the healthcare they need and deserve.

NZNO commends initiatives that target school-aged children, through universal access to nurses in every school as promised by the Labour Party.

“This approach is likely to result in better health and mental health outcomes for children and youth. In addition, this has the potential to fully utilise nursing workforce and give priority to the health and well-being of children and young people,” Hilary Graham-Smith said.

“Regardless of who becomes the next Government, we advocate for a review of the funding and delivery of primary health services so that they truly are utilised by all New Zealanders”

NZNO has released its Nursing Matters Manifesto 2017 as an outline of what its members expect any government to deliver.  NZNO seven priorities:

• A sustainable, fully utilised nursing workforce
• Investment in public health
• A primary health care approach to improving population health
• Oranga Tamariki – health and well-being of children and young persons
• Safe clinical environments
• Fair Employment
• Social and health equity in Aotearoa, the Asia Pacific region and globally.

The NZNO Manifesto 2017 can be accessed here.

Media enquiries: Communications and Media Adviser: Karen Coltman 027 431 2617.

Media Release                                                                    10 August 2017

NO to proposed Buller Integrated Family Health Centre

In support of the community opposition to the proposed Integrated Family Health Centre (IFHC), NZNO CE Memo Musa has written to the chair of the Health Select Committee, Hon. Simon O’Connor to set out NZNO’s position.

Steve White and Phyl Phipps has this week presented a submission on behalf of the Buller Hospital Action Group against the current proposal and to highlight the lack of public consultation about the health centre.

“The West Coast population is forecast to be an aging population, not a wealthy population and with increasing health needs. Therefore, a reduced and smaller health facility, as currently proposed, is not future focused and not fit for purpose in this context. The current proposals should be scrapped,” Memo Musa said.

“Members feel that the exclusion of community health, district nursing and mental health and the reduction in bed numbers is unacceptable and unfair to the community.

“Regular staff and community consultation ceased eighteen months ago but decisions regarding the partner funder (ACC) have been announced, without opportunities for discussion,” Memo Musa said.

“A proper and transparent planning process should be instigated involving the West Coast District Health Board to develop a proposal and business case outlining the health needs of the Buller community, having engaged and consulted with the community and health professionals on the frontline.

“A new facility concept should be designed through proper consultation to ensure it is fit for purpose and can adequately cater for health needs of the community, and provide a safe environment for delivery of care and services.”

ENDS.

Media Release                                                         8 August 2017  

Bill a hindrance to pay equity and not in line with principles

NZNO Industrial Services Manager Cee Payne says the draft Employment (Pay Equity and Equal Pay) Bill is disheartening and a step backwards for equality for nursing and women in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

“The Bill as it is, currently puts the onus on women to prove inequity and introduces extra barriers for women to be paid fairly for their work. I urge all political parties to question this and examine this proposition carefully,” said Cee Payne.

“We cannot understand why the Government would choose to make it harder for women to achieve equality when New Zealanders support and expect pay equity for women.

“Those undertaking nursing work should be able to choose the best comparator to their work, rather than with a job with the same employer in the first instance. 

“This Bill gives no opportunity for outstanding pay equity claims to be assessed the same way as Kristine Bartlett’s was. Nurses haven’t established the best pay equity comparison yet but this Bill is off the mark as nurses deserve to find this out without having to jump through more hoops.

 “It is deeply unfair to introduce a new law that makes it harder for women to achieve pay equity,” she said.

NZNO currently has introduced a pay equity claim for District Health Board nurses as part of its Multi-Employer Collective Agreement bargaining and is confident that this claim can be worked through fairly and in good faith using the pay equity principles agreed by the Government’s tripartite working group.

Media Release                                                                    21 July 2017

Debbie Chin an excellent leader and manager 

NZNO is alarmed to hear today of the resignation of Debbie Chin, Chief Executive of Capital and Coast DHB. Many members and staff are personally upset to see how the ongoing underfunding of the DHB has caused a highly capable leader to leave the top post.

NZNO Chief Executive Memo Musa says this is fourth chief executive to resign because of underfunding of CCDHB, which has been ongoing for many years. Debbie Chin has previously worked as the deputy director-general at the Ministry of Health and as a health adviser for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Ms Chin brought twenty years of public service experience to the job.

“We are actually shocked and disappointed that the impossible task of running a DHB, providing good services to the community of Wellington as well as other DHBs in the Central region, without enough funds, has taken another head. This really should ring loud and long alarm bells to Treasury and to Government that underfunding of the DHBs is causing havoc,” Memo Musa said.

“Our nurses, organisers, professional nurse advisors and senior staff have excellent working relationships with Ms Chin and many are personally upset she is leaving when she has been an absolute rock and a great leader for the DHB.”

The Council of Trade Unions’ breakdown of Budget 2017 reveals health underfunding leaves the Wellington region short by at least $9 million this year alone. Memo Musa highlights a December 2016 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers showing that CCDHB proportion of the budget spent on nursing was low compared with Auckland, Counties-Manukau, Waitemata and Canterbury.

“It therefore seem unimaginable more cost reductions are being demanded, when the issue is that of underfunding – there are no more efficiencies to be found, and cutting costs, especially in staffing, has the potential to lead to unsafe staffing and working environments for nurses,” Memo Musa said.

NZNO Organiser for Wellington, Georgia Choveaux:

 “On behalf of the nurses, I acknowledge Ms Chin’s partnership based approach to working with the nurses’ organisation.  We found her to be a CE always willing to engage with us on the issues that mattered most. Many will be upset at this bad news,” she said.

Ends.

Media release                                                       14 July 2017

Dilani Perera – a workplace leader for Equal Pay

At the Council of Trade Unions’ Women’s Conference tonight in Wellington, NZNO delegate Dilani Perera was honoured with a Leadership and Commitment on Equal Pay Award.

Dilani is an NZNO member leader who has worked throughout the recent Equal Pay Claim for Caregivers to generate support and publicity for the claim. All 55,000 workers in the affected sectors are expected to see their wages increase to between $19 and $27 over five years. (http://www.union.org.nz/equal-pay/)

NZNO Industrial Services Manager Cee Payne, congratulating Dilani Perera on the award, says she is being recognised for her commitment to the claim, her consistent communications to members and her leadership throughout.

“Dilani was extremely active during the campaign period over many years from the very beginning right through to the end,” Ms Payne said.

“She featured in our videos explaining the meaning of equal pay, spoke with MPs at parliament and welcomed a Member into her Johnsonville workplace for Caregiver’s week.

“Dilani organised her colleagues, giving strength, passion and humanity to the equal pay campaign. Dilani and members just like her made this historic settlement possible. We are very proud of what she has bravely achieved for the equal pay movement in New Zealand.”

Photos from the event will are on the NZNO Facebook page.

Ends

Media Release                                                                7 July 2017

Canterbury DHB budget allocation short by over $17m this year

The thorough CTU Health Budget analysis out this week shows the raw facts of health underfunding that leaves Canterbury short by at least $17m this year alone.

http://www.union.org.nz/did-the-budget-provide-enough-for-health-2017/

NZNO President, Grant Brookes reports that the CTU assess the total Health Budget shortfall for this year to be $215m across New Zealand.

“NZNO assesses that to keep up with population need, Budget 2018 would need to inject a total of $2b more to deliver what New Zealanders and the health workforce need to be running safely and effectively,” Grant Brookes said.

“This lack of health spending, combined with the lack of investment in the workforce may really be the tipping point that triggers many in an aging nurse workforce to walk away from the profession.

“As a mental health nurse I am particularly concerned that the government has little vision for helping communities with their population’s mental health care need.

“Mental health nurses at Canterbury have told me they don’t have enough staff to cope with the extra 200 admissions they’re getting each month, compared to pre-earthquake levels, although the problem of short staffing also exists elsewhere, all across the DHB.

“There was no ‘mental health care funding boost’ as proclaimed by the government and the mental health services spend only increased by 1.2 per cent when actually need is up around 5 per cent. The government has actually cut mental health funding and disguised this,” Grant Brookes said.

NZNO’s open letter to voters, urging the public to put health first this election can be found: https://blog.nzno.org.nz/2017/04/03/an-open-letter-to-new-zealand-voters-we-need-your-help/  Members of the public can add their names in support of the letter as a comment at the bottom of the page.