Nursing reports

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 7 December 2018

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) welcomes He Ara Oranga, the report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, but says more emphasis on nursing and workforce wellbeing is required.

NZNO President Grant Brookes said many of the issues raised by NZNO in its submission to the Inquiry have been addressed, but that there remain some concerning gaps.

“We appreciate the people-centred nature of the report and its willingness to apply fresh thinking to old and complex problems. If all its recommendations were followed, huge improvements would be made in the lives of people in New Zealand with mental health and addiction problems.”

However, Grant Brookes said that there is nothing in the recommendations to address current workforce wellbeing issues, including increasing incidences of violence towards staff.

“Nurses, whether in the community or in hospitals, are essential. They’re at the forefront in treating mental health and addiction, but we know the mental health and addiction nursing workforce is becoming more tired, fearful and burnt out.

“That makes it a difficult branch of nursing to recruit to. So if we fail to plan for a nursing workforce that is robustly resourced, safe in the workplace and fully staffed, then many of the Inquiry’s other recommendations will come to nothing.

Grant Brookes said he agreed with the report that this is a once in a generation opportunity.

“Health Minister Hon David Clark has said reshaping our approach to mental health and addiction is no small task and will take some time. We think so too, and urge the Government to begin work on a plan to address mental health and addiction needs in New Zealand without delay – and this must include nursing workforce issues.”

NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said she welcomes the report’s focus on strengthening Kaupapa Māori services.

“NGOs and Kaupapa Māori services play a vital role in providing culturally appropriate responses and supporting whānau in the community.

“Removing barriers short-term contracting costs and streamlining funding would make these services more sustainable and ensure that the workforce in this sector is well supported.”

Kerri Nuku said NGOs and Kaupapa Māori services form a key part of the ‘whole of government’ approach to wellbeing and agrees that Government must support their development.  Further, focus on Māori health must be strengthened within the Ministry of Health and other Government agencies.

NZNO looks forward to continuing to work with the Government and other stakeholders to help bring about the changes recommended in the report.

-Ends-

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

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.

-Ends-

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 5 December 2018

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) welcomes Employment Law improvements that will bring fairer and safer work.

NZNO Industrial Services Manager Cee Payne says it is heartening that we are returning to an employment law framework that restores the right for working people to have greater fairness and safety at work.

“Many workers in New Zealand are not covered by a collective agreement and, under the old law, had lost basic rights – such as a new employee’s right to mediation where there is an existing employment dispute, or just the right to regular meal and tea breaks.

“Restoring the right to a tea break sends a really important message that every working person has value and deserves the right to fair and safe work.”

Cee Payne said the changes are relatively easy to adopt for employers and will be effective for working people.

“We know these restored rights support good workplaces and safe work, because we’ve had similar provisions before and the evidence is there that they work.

“We’re encouraged by the progress the Government has made in this new employment law and we look forward to seeing ongoing progress towards fairer work and conditions.”

NZNO workplace delegate Nurse Erin Kennedy is also pleased with the law change.

“As a health professional I was really worried when hard-working New Zealanders started losing rights to a cup of tea and a break. Something like that can be really unsafe, and that’s not good for anybody – including employers.” 

-Ends-

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 3 December 2018

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) needs to get serious about enforcing a zero-tolerance approach to violence in the workplace if the now regular assaults against nurses are to stop.

NZNO Organiser John Miller said it is absolutely unacceptable for anyone to feel scared to go to work because they could be stabbed, burned, beaten, punched or strangled.

“Surely this is going to negatively affect the quality of the care they can give.

“We have been speaking out about the safety of nurses and other staff in the workplace for years. NZNO has also been working for some time to support security, safety and good practice environments for it members.

“This has included participating on working groups that have made recommendations to CDHB around issues such as employing security guards and urgently funding and pursuing improved practice environments to make inpatient settings safer.”

He said NZNO is also calling on WorkSafe to step up and take a proactive approach to violence in the workplace for all health workers. 

“Where is WorkSafe’s involvement in all this? We are aware that WorkSafe has had very few serious assault reports from CDHB’s Specialist Mental Health Services, but there have been more than enough publically reported incidents that should be triggering ‘WorkSafe’s involvement.”

“A much more serious approach is needed to make workplaces safer for staff – and it would be a major omission if this were not a main focus of the Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction.”

NZNO media release, 30 November 2018

Around 100 NZNO nurses, medical receptionists/administrators and health promoters have voted to issue a 24 hour strike notice over a breakdown in their collective agreement negotiation with Family Planning Association (FPA). The strike will take place from 7.00am 13 December to 7.00am 14 December 2018.

The parties have been in negotiations since March 2018 and attended mediation in August.

Family Planning provide a range of clinical services and education in 33 clinics, 32 school linked clinics and outreach centres across New Zealand.

NZNO Lead Advocate Chris Wilson says that FPA staff are simply asking for their work to be fully respected and be equitably recognised for their value and expertise. "Family Planning is a public health organisation providing incredibly valuable work for our community," she said. "But it is simply unsustainable and unfair for our members to be paid less than the going rate for their work."

Members rejected the latest offer made because it failed to fully address longstanding wage inequity.

FPA nurses are paid at least 6% less than a comparable role within the DHB. They have to attain additional competencies to deliver the services Family Planning provide, up to and including nurse prescribing. FPA Nurse Practitioners could gain between 13 - 27% with a career move to the DHB.

FPA wages for medical receptionist and administration roles are also problematic, with half of their rates being below the living wage.

Family Planning have had at least a decade of inadequate funding. FPA have stated that this underfunding is the cause of their inability to invest more into wages.

NZNO acknowledge that FPA have endeavoured to provide higher increases than in previous years, however staff at FPA should not have to make up the funding shortfall by working for lower wages. It is time that the funding provided to FPA matched the value it gives to the wellbeing of our community.

The parties will be directed to attend mediation before the strike occurs and Chris Wilson remains hopeful that funding can be found to settle the dispute.

"Our members don’t want to strike and this has never occurred previously. They are passionate about the fantastic service they provide and want to remain and also be able to attract staff to the service. They need wage rates that recognize the true value of their work in comparison to their peers and further a living wage for all staff.

However, when community health appears to be valued at a lower rate than hospital care they know the community is relying on them to improve it."

-Ends-

Media inquiries: Georgia Choveaux, Campaigns Adviser  027 553 7343

NZNO media release, 14 November 2018

NZNO nurses and health care assistants (HCAs) will join colleagues in various professions, and from three other unions, in a 24 hour strike over a breakdown in their collective agreement negotiation with East Coast PHO Ngāti Porou Hauora (NPH). The strike will take place from 7.00am 27 November to 7.00am 28 November 2018.

NZNO, Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says registered nurses working for NPH earn $14,000 per year less than their colleagues working in district health boards (DHBs) and enrolled nurses working for NPH earn less than HCAs whose wages are covered by the Pay Equity Settlement Act.

Despite this, NPH’s current offer amounts to no more than 2 percent, with some staff being offered no increase at all. Last year staff narrowly voted to accept a 0 percent pay increase but now say they have had enough of being poorly paid and want to be treated fairly and with the respect they deserve.

Rural health nurse Gina Chaffey-Aupouri (Ngāti Porou) says NPH nurses and health care assistants are caring people who are key to addressing the incredibly high health needs in the area.

“We just want to be paid the same as our colleagues working down the road who have the same qualifications and experience as we do,” she says.

“It’s just not fair to anybody. We already face so many barriers because we’re away from the main centres and we just can’t attract new staff when they can earn so much more working elsewhere. So we carry on, and we do the extra hours because we’re understaffed. We love and care for our people, but enough is enough and somebody has to stop and listen.”

NZNO organiser Christina Couling says the four unions (NZNO, the PSA, FIRST and E tū) want a fair pay increase for their members and a plan from NPH about how it will address stagnating wages and pay inequities between these and other nurses. No plan has been forthcoming despite negotiations having taken place for nearly a year.

“What we have here is another clear case of inequity and underinvestment in rural communities that have a significant proportion of Māori, and people in poverty with high health needs,” she says

“It’s fundamentally unjust when a DHB will not give its health providers the funding required to pay nurses at the same rate as nurses working in DHBs – despite them having the same qualifications, expertise and importance. It should not be left to hard-working, dedicated nurses to bear the brunt when finances are tight.

“Nobody wants to strike but when the health of the people in the iwi and region hangs in the balance like this, there really is no other option.”

-Ends-

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

29 October 2018

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) welcomes the Law Commission’s report outlining three alternative legal models for treating abortion as a health issue rather than a criminal one. NZNO, which made a submission on the issue and was part of the Law Commission’s wider health sector consultations, says it’s pleased nurses’ voices have been heard.

NZNO Professional Nursing Advisor Kate Weston says nurses play a huge role in women’s reproductive health and are much more likely to have ongoing relationships with patients than the consultants currently required to approve abortions.

“NZNO’s position is pretty clearly outlined in Model A, which would put decision-making around an abortion in the hands of the pregnant person in consultation with their health practitioner. This would remove red tape and harmful delays and better equip women to take charge of their own health.”

Kate Weston says she would like to see a more humane and sensible approach to abortion become part of an integrated health strategy for women and girls that encompasses all issues related to reproductive health, including fair access to PHARMAC-funded medicines.

“NZNO applauds the Law Commission for its report and looks forward to playing a continuing role in developing legislation that recognises abortion as a health issue and protects women’s reproductive autonomy.”

-Ends-

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

18 October 2018

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) supports the New Zealand Educational Institute’s (NZEI’s) strong stand over pay that may result in regional primary school teacher strikes in November. However, it is encouraging all parties to resolve issues urgently in a way that reflects the true value of New Zealand teachers and avoids the need for strikes.

NZNO Acting Industrial Services Manager Glenda Alexander said nursing and teaching face similar issues in that poor pay and stressful working conditions have resulted in ongoing problems around morale and fewer people staying in or joining the profession.

“Like nurses, teachers do work of immense value and there should be no question of this being reflected in the way they are paid. We agree with the NZEI that this is ultimately about the future of education and is therefore an important issue for all New Zealanders.

“NZNO encourages the Government, Ministry of Education and NZEI to work together urgently to find a solution that: avoids the need for strike action in November; recognises and rewards teachers now; and ensures the attractiveness of teaching as a profession into the future.”

-Ends-

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

NZNO media advisory, 17 October 2018

Registered nurses, health care assistants and cleaners at Lynton Lodge Hospital in Auckland are to picket for an hour in protest over failing pay negotiations.

When: Thursday 18 October, 4.30-5.30pm
Where: Corner of West End Rd and Fife St, Westmere, Auckland
Spokesperson: Sarah Barker, Organiser, New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO)

Background:

NZNO has been negotiating to renew a collective agreement (CA) with Sunrise Healthcare which took over management of Lynton Lodge Hospital around one year ago. Sunrise had agreed to retain the existing CA.

However, the latest pay offer from Sunrise has been rejected by NZNO members.

• For cleaners at the hospital there is no offered pay rise beyond the increase to the minimum wage (required last April).
• For registered nurses (RNs) with four years’ service the pay offer is just 13 cents per hour. Those with three years’ service have been offered just two cents.

Health care assistants at Lynton Lodge Hospital (whose pay is now regulated through the Care and Support Workers Pay Equity Settlement) have voted to support their RN and cleaner colleagues by joining the picket.

Of interest:

Many staff at Lynton Lodge have long service there. Lynton Lodge was the winner of the 2015/16 Aged Advisor People’s Choice Award for Best Aged Care (Small) Facility, and was a finalist for the same award in 2017.

 -Ends-

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

NZNO media release 12 October 2018

More than 300 nursing leaders will convene in Rarotonga on Monday (15 October) for the 19^th South Pacific Nurses Forum and AGM.

The theme for the Forum this year is Transforming Leadership: Nurses as Change Agents for Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Pacific.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said nurses must be positioned as partners in redesigning and advancing health care to address the challenges NCDs bring.

“NCDs, such as heart disease and diabetes, are probably the greatest health challenge Pacific countries now face and we as nurses are at the coalface in this challenge. We deal with the deaths and illnesses caused by NCDs every day and we need to lead the way in prevention and management to improve the health of Pacific people.”

Kerri Nuku will be part of an NZNO delegation to the Forum. The delegation will also include NZNO, NZNO President Grant Brookes, NZNO Pacific Section Chair Eseta Finau, NZNO Kaumātua Keelan Ransfield and NZNO Chief Executive Memo Musa.

A communique will be produced after the AGM that will make statements and recommendations about the strategic direction for nursing for members of the SPNF and Pacific countries.

High profile keynote speakers at the Forum will include World Health Organization Chief Nurse Elizabeth Iro, International Council of Nurses President Annette Kennedy and Chief Advisor Pacific Health (New Zealand Ministry of Health) Matafanua Hilda Fa’asalele.  

New Zealand presenters at the Forum will include nursing leaders and experts from Auckland University of Technology, Alliance Health Plus, Manukau Institute of Technology, Victoria University of Wellington, Te Piki Oranga Ltd, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Auckland Diabetes Centre and the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer (Ministry of Health).

The forum meets every two years.

More information, including a full programme, is available at http://www.spnf.org.au/.

-Ends-

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