Nursing reports

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 12 June 2020

Pay talks stalled yesterday and Mediation is the next step for primary health care nurses, says the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO). NZNO has been negotiating the Primary Health Care Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (PHC MECA) since November last year for 3400 nurses, receptionists and administrators across more than 500 practices and accident or medical centres.

NZNO Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson said the employers were not able to increase their offer rejected last month by NZNO members, and that additional funding is clearly needed before they could. However they were also clear that pay parity with DHB nursing staff is necessary to continue delivery of quality primary health care.

“It is very disappointing for all parties that we have not yet gained the Government funding needed despite approaches to the Health Minister, the Ministry of Health and DHB officials by NZNO and organisations such as the New Zealand Medical Association, Green Cross Limited and General Practice NZ.”

NZNO released a petition two weeks ago asking the Government to intervene and that DHBs urgently provide the funding needed to fix pay parityy and properly value primary health care workers. Almost 8000 people signed and Ms Wilson says the messages are very clear.

"People want these staff to be properly valued and they want enough of them available to provide the primary health care services we all need. General practices and emergency centres are the front door of the health system."

An experienced nurse covered by the PHC MECA is currently paid 10.6 percent less than their DHB colleague with the same qualifications 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,” Ms Wilson said.

The next stage in the negotiation process is Mediation, which will take place on 29 June.

“That leaves two weeks to fix the disparity and it really comes down to political will. 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.

“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."

On Friday 19 June primary health care workers will be highlighting the pay parity issue by holding a “Seeing Red Day” to demonstrate that they are in fact “Seeing Red”. General practices and emergency centres across the country will be decked out in red and staff will wear items of red clothing.

Primary health care funding comes through the Vote Health Budget and is allocated to general practices and other services via the DHBs and primary health organisations (PHOs).

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

More information

People signing the petition for pay parity with DHB nurses were able to include comments. Here are just a few select examples.

Nurses

“I absolutely support my primary health colleagues in their fight for pay parity. It is outrageous that any pay increases do not apply to all professional nurses.”

“After 45 years working in primary and secondary care, I am fully aware of the different skills required and demands on nurses in each sector. Neither group is more important, or more essential, to the health of the patient, the community or the nation – so why does our pay not reflect that? General practice a private concern, so not your problem??? Get real!!”

“After 50 years of Nursing I feel undervalued and underpaid.  We are worth so much more.”

Doctors

“Our primary care nurses are one of the key foundations of our health system in New Zealand. I've seen first-hand that many amazing practice nurses are considering leaving to go to hospital nursing because of the pay inequality.”

"As a GP and practice owner we are now in the position of being so restricted in what we can charge patients that it makes it near impossible to recover business expenses (such as a fair wage for practice nurses) by passing those costs onto our  users (patients). I support the NZNO in their position of requesting additional funding from MOH/DHB's to cover the cost of a nurse wage increase. "

“As a GP, we could not do our jobs and promote the health of Kiwis without our amazing primary care nurses. General practice is the backbone of healthcare in Aotearoa and the nurses who work tirelessly educating and supporting patients are priceless. Please help us support our nurses and show them we value them!”

Patients

“A chat with your practice nurse is always helpful. They provide an amazing service for ALL age groups. They should never be undervalued!”

“Please value the hard work these nurses do. They save the DHBs money and resources by preventing hospitalisations and by supporting people with chronic/complex health needs… to self-manage in the community. The least the DHBs can do is pay them the same as their nursing colleagues in the hospitals.”

“I have struggled significantly with health issues for years, leading me to spend time at my GP clinic frequently and being in hospital. I spend more time with the nurses than I

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 8 June 2020

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) CE Memo Musa announced today that a resolution calling for the dissolution of the NZNO Board is not legally valid and is inconsistent with NZNO’s Constitution.

The resolution was presented in a petition last month calling for an expression of no confidence in the current Board, dissolution of the current NZNO Board and for fresh elections to be held for all 11 Director positions.

The petition was signed by 1038 members of NZNO and 701 non-members. Mr Musa said that after receiving legal advice, including from a QC (Queen’s Counsel), he determined that it would be unconstitutional, and therefore illegal, for the motion to remove the democratically elected Board members even to be considered at an SGM.

“You can’t just remove Board members who have been democratically elected. There are provisions within NZNO’s Constitution that sets out requirements for this, and this resolution does not meet these requirements. The legal advice was that I had no other option but to reject the petition request.

“I looked at this matter in fine detail because of its importance and I got the best legal advice available. I’m very confident this is the right decision.”

Mr Musa said the constitution is NZNO’s rule book and it would be illegal for him to break its rules.

“I will therefore not be issuing Notice of an SGM (Special General Meeting) to vote on the resolution in the petition.”

Mr Musa said there are currently five vacancies on the Board including the President and Vice President. NZNO will hold by-elections in accordance with its Constitution to elect new Directors to those five vacant positions. Nominations open on Friday 19 June..

“My focus is to look forward and to encourage members to fully participate in the Board by-election process by voting, by putting themselves forward, or by ‘nominating a mate’. “It’s important to put these challenges behind us now, and to come together as a truly democratic union and professional association. With Covid 19 not over for health workers, we must stay strong together.

“We must keep fighting for what nurses need in their work places to keep themselves safe and, amongst other things, to retain and improve on current terms and conditions of employment.”

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 8 June 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has been negotiating the Primary Health Care Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (PHC MECA) since November last year. However, NZNO Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson says the additional funding needed to achieve pay parity with district health board (DHB) nurses has not been forthcoming, and that this is largely why negotiations have failed for so long.

“Employers say they would like to pay on a level with DHBs but, despite approaches to the Health Minister, the Ministry of Health and DHB officials by NZNO and organisations such as the New Zealand Medical Association, Green Cross Limited and General Practice NZ, they do not receive the required funding.”

She says an experienced nurse covered by the PHC MECA is currently paid 10.6 percent less than their DHB colleague with the same qualifications 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 and by the ensuing praise heaped on them.

“This disparity can be fixed, and it really comes down to political will. Budget 2020 put an extra $3.92 billion into DHBs over the next four years whereas PHC employers have costed pay parity for PHC nurses at a mere $15 million.”

A petition was released 10 days ago requesting ‘that the Government intervene and that DHBs urgently provide the funding needed to remedy the pay inequity and properly value primary health care workers. This in turn will ensure quality, accessible and affordable primary health care can be delivered.’

More than 7000 people have signed the petition, with 3000 in just the last three days, and Ms Wilson says the messages are very clear.

“People want these nurses to be valued and they want enough of them available to provide the primary health care services we all need. General practices and emergency centres are the front door of the health system.”

In a recent survey of NZNO members, 70 percent of respondents said they were considering leaving the sector because of higher pay elsewhere.

“PHC nurses are tired of hearing statements from the Minister and DHBs that they are employed by private providers and their pay is therefore not negotiated with the Government or Crown entities,” Ms Wilson said.

“They see this as a cop-out, particularly given there was a post-Budget pledge of more funding to early childhood centres (private providers) in recognition of their value and of their importance in the recovery from COVID-19. That’s a great outcome for them and it shows the Government can address pay inequities. There are clear parallels and we would like to see a similar solution found.

“Without additional funding, the only other way to resolve recruitment and retention issues would be to pass the additional costs on to the consumers and patients. This is not a responsible solution and clearly not in the interests of every community in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Negotiations will resume on Wednesday 10 June. Ms Wilson says she hopes a solution will be possible for the more than 3400 nurses, receptionists and administrators across more than 500 practices and accident or medical centres that the PHC MECA covers.

Primary health care funding comes through the Vote Health Budget and is allocated to general practices and other services via the DHBs and primary health organisations (PHOs).

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 29 May 2020

A recently released report by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and the McGuinness Institute highlights the challenges faced by NZNO members (nurses, midwives, health care assistants, kai mahi hauora and nursing students) working on the frontlines at the height of the COVID-19 crisis in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Based on a survey of NZNO members, conducted between 22 April and 4 May 2020, the report reveals an incredibly unprepared health system, and NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the organisations hope this report will give the Government concrete examples of health care workers’ experiences so we can be better prepared for pandemics to come.

"We are where we are, not because the system was working, but because of the bravery and expertise of our members, as well as a rāhui (lockdown; time for reflection) that was well supported by public health experts, community-based groups and self-organised iwi and hapū.

"The last few months have exposed deep flaws and disconnections in our health system, but responses to our calls for change have often been slow or, in many areas, non-existent.

"Our frontline workers know very well the issues the system faces and how to fix them, so we wanted to ensure those things were captured."

Ms Nuku says that the lack of confidence in PPE supply, shown in the report, indicates a massive flaw in its supply and distribution as well as a disturbing disconnect between high level rhetoric and what actually happens on the ground.

"About half of the nurses surveyed were not confident about PPE supply, and their comments reveal they felt let down in terms of access to PPE and in proper training in its use. And as we clearly saw, their lives were needlessly put in danger as a result.

"Another big issue revealed is the contrast between staff working in district health boards and those in the aged care, disability and primary health sectors. For example, primary health care workers (e.g. GP practice nurses) were the most involved with testing and triaging, but say they felt much less prepared and supported than their colleagues working in public hospitals.

"Unsurprisingly, Issues around PPE preparedness and nurses having to go into isolation also highlighted continued problems around inadequate staffing levels.

"While we weren’t surprised to see these results, the survey has reinforced the need to address some fundamental issues around the allocation and distribution of funding and resources, PPE supply and training, and staffing levels."

NZNO is really grateful to the McGuinness Institute, and to those members who gave their time, for helping share such important stories, and Ms Nuku says it is now up to the Government to honour our frontline workers, and all of us in Aotearoa, by making the changes we need for the future.

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 21 May 2020

After prolonged negotiations primary health care nurses have voted down a final offer from employers of 2.5 and 2 percent pay increases over two years.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has been negotiating the Primary Health Care Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (PHC MECA) since November last year. The MECA covers more than 3400 nurses, receptionists and administrators across more than 500 practices and accident or medical centres.

Despite approaches to the Health Minister, the Ministry of Health and DHB officials by NZNO and organisations such as the New Zealand Medical Association, Green Cross Limited and General Practice NZ, the additional funding needed to achieve pay parity with DHB nurses has not been forthcoming.

NZNO Industrial Adviser Chris Wilson says that in March this year employers gave their final offer based on what they say they can currently afford, but it was clearly insufficient.

“We have advocated strongly for an offer that would put primary health care nurses on a salary par with their DHB counterparts, but this offer falls woefully short and accordingly our members have voted it down.

“An experienced nurse covered by the PHC MECA is currently paid 10.6 percent less than their DHB colleague with the same qualifications and experience. This disparity can and must be fixed, and it really comes down to funding and political will.”

Ms Wilson says that despite NZNO’s advocacy, and widespread recognition of their valuable work – especially on the frontline against COVID-19 – the Government continues to undervalue the work of PHC nurses and the sector by not funding the gap that will secure pay parity. She says it’s time this recognition and praise were matched by pay.

“There was a post-Budget pledge of more funding to early childhood centres in recognition that they were undervalued and of their importance in the recovery from COVID-19. That’s a great outcome for them and it shows the Government is capable of addressing pay inequities. There are clear parallels here to primary health care and we would like to see a similar solution found.

Earlier this year NZNO surveyed its members covered by the PHC MECA and 70 percent of respondents said they were considering leaving the sector because of higher pay elsewhere. Many nurse leaders said in the survey that they are struggling to recruit new nurses or keep the ones they already have.

“These nurses provide expert care and advice which often reduces hospital admissions. Fewer nurses will mean these services become less available and more expensive,” Ms Wilson says.

“Not only is the pay inequality an injustice, it ultimately costs the system more in the long-term. We cannot let this go on.”

NZNO will resume negotiations as soon as possible in an endeavour to reach a proposed collective agreement that values primary health care workers’ contribution to delivering a quality service at the frontline of health.

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 18 May 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says it is pleased to see significant investment into health and disabilities in the 2020 Budget, but wants more detail about how that money will be targeted, lest important opportunities be missed.

NZNO Industrial Services Manager Glenda Alexander says it is really positive that the Budget acknowledges the crucial changes our health and social systems require.

“We welcome funding that targets the social determinants of health, including massive increases to state housing and insulation; lunches for 200,000 schoolchildren; and trades training, because good housing, nutrition and employment are central to good health.

“We also welcome $3.9 billion for district health boards announced earlier last week, but what we’d really like to see is some detail about how that extra money will flow into the Primary Health Care sector and towards Māori and Iwi providers. This is where the bottlenecks are.”

Ms Alexander said another issue not specifically addressed was staffing.

“How does the Government believe this extra health care it is funding will be delivered when the current health workforce is so understaffed? Additionally the urgent need for a skilled workforce in aged care has been starkly profiled by the COVID-19 crisis.

“So there’s a real opportunity here to look at re-training and support to meet this growing need, especially when we consider unemployment is likely to be around 10 percent or more.

“And if we’re speaking of opportunities, there is Budget funding ring-fenced for Māori and Pasifika communities ($485 million and $195 million respectively) that could and should be used to address equity issues.

“Finally, it is really disappointing to see that there is no progress to pay equity and living wage campaigns, both of which are central to work nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kai mahi hauora do.”

She said that, while it’s great that we now understand that money has to be spent, we do need to be reassured that money and resources are being targeted correctly to ensure the real problems we face are addressed at their real heart.

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 13 May 2020

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says it welcomes the incident review report released today by Waitematā District Health Board (DHB) into COVID-19 Staff infections at Waitakere Hospital during April.

Seven nurses contracted the virus at the hospital during April, one of whom was admitted to hospital.

NZNO Associate Professional Services Manager Kate Weston thanked the DHB for acknowledging the exemplary care provided by the nurses and for their apology to those nurses and their whānau.

“This will go some way to rebuilding their relationship with their employer,” she said.

However, Ms Weston said the report’s recommendations highlight a number of serious concerns and some valuable lessons about practice going forward.

“Health and safety concerns continue with a real lack of clarity around patient flow and rostering to properly eliminate exposure risk, case definitions and ongoing PPE access issues.

“The DHB has put these nurses and their whānau at an unacceptable risk and we’re concerned lessons weren’t learned from the larger clusters in Waitemata and Rosewood/Burwood.”

Ms Weston also said a major concern arising from the report is that workplace exposure to COVID-19 is not recognised as a reportable event to Worksafe.

“NZNO and other unions are very concerned that health workers aren’t afforded that level of investigation from this external body and regulator when things related to safety go wrong in workplace and someone is hospitalised.”

She said, however, that NZNO is pleased the DHB has been in contact with affected staff to check on their wellbeing.  NZNO has also supporting the nurses who had been in contact.

“Our thoughts are with the nurse who was hospitalised with hopes for a full recovery. They are also with those other staff unwell and at home, especially where other members of their household were exposed.”

An NZNO delegate was part of the review panel that produced the report and Ms Weston said NZNO is keen to provide part of the oversight as the report’s recommendations are implemented.

“There is an urgent need to implement the recommendations immediately to provide clarity, and build confidence for staff and the public as we move from Level 3 to Level 2, which involves a real ‘unknown’ in terms of another COVID-19 spike.”

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 12 May 2020

On the International Day of the Nurse, NZNO is paying tribute to the 301 nurses from 32 countries who have died from their frontline work fighting COVID-19. This is the latest tally from Global Nurses United (GNU), but GNU Co-ordinator Ken Zinn says there are likely to be many more.

“I want to stress that these are just the names that we could find. Undoubtedly there are others who are still unaccounted for.

“But you all have done amazingly well in New Zealand – which is a credit to your union and your government.” 

NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku welcomed the comments.

“NZNO stands in solidarity with all our brothers and sisters worldwide; Kia kaha!”

NZNO is a member of both Global Nurses United and the International Council of Nurses, and Ms Nuku said a small silver lining on the worldwide pandemic is that nursing is the most connected it has ever been globally.

“Wherever we are on the planet, we have all faced the same issues, made the same sacrifices and shared the same courage. It is an absolute tragedy that so many of us have fallen, but we are united and we are strong, both locally and in an international sense.”

She said a small local example was New Zealand sharing a candlelight vigil with nurses in Eastern Australia, with nursing groups in both countries sharing video of the vigil on their social media pages at the same time (9pm in New Zealand). This will follow a New Zealand only candlelit vigil starting at 7pm.

“We have been incredibly fortunate that we have not lost any nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A small number have been hospitalised, and the one remaining in hospital now appears to be improving.

“While the vigils are about nurses and communities standing in solidarity, they are also about remembering the nurses who have died overseas and our own nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kai mahi hauora who have also given much,” Ms Nuku said. 

She said that though Aotearoa New Zealand had not lost nurses to COVID-19, a lot had still gone wrong and that so many nurses here contracting the virus or having to go into isolation.

“When the COVID-19 dust has settled we will be calling for an investigation into why, despite impressive control planning at a government level, things went so badly wrong for so many nursing staff in their places of work.”

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

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 6 May 2020

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku is calling for an end to personal attacks and for unity after a petition was launched today asking for the NZNO Board to stand down and for a new Board to be re-elected.

“We want to make it very clear to our members and to the public that this petition has its source in the findings of serious misconduct against the former President Grant Brookes which led to two Special General Meetings . One involved the Board calling for Mr Brookes to be removed from office (which he survived by less than 51 percent). The second was a vote of confidence and support for Mr Brookes which he lost by 66 percent.

“The organisers of the petition and supporters of Mr Brookes have launched it on the basis of the one-sided account provided by him. We believe this is actually a personal attack by Mr Brookes on the role of the Kaiwhakahaere and on myself personally. It’s also an attempt to undermine NZNO’s bicultural foundation, our democratic processes and our union and professional values. This is not how union members behave and is a direct attack on our solidarity.

“The petition is extremely divisive in attempting undermine member confidence in the union and professional association at a time when we need to be working with and supporting our members in the fight against COVID-19 and in their ongoing important work to meet the health needs of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand.  I am calling on these actions to stop and for people to stop putting their personal agendas first.  We need to be united at this time.

“We are disappointed that this small group is using this time to grandstand and push their own views and agendas.”

A media release accompanying the petition launch says, “Four of the six remaining board members have been in the role for less than six months. It simply isn’t fair to expect them to govern our venerable organisation.”

Kerri Nuku said NZNO members have elected people to the Board who are experienced nurses and perfectly able to fulfil their governance roles.

“It’s incredibly disrespectful to these Board members who are working really hard at the moment and also to the members who elected them.

“The Board has already announced plans to hold by-elections to replace the President and departed Board members, and NZNO has democratic processes in place for this to happen where everyone will have a voice.”

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

NZNO media release, 5 May 2020

While NZNO is known mainly for representing nurses, many of its members are also midwives and whakawhānau. We at the union and professional organisation want to acknowledge and celebrate their incredible mahi today, the International Day of the Midwife.

During the incredible difficulties of the last six weeks of the COVID-19 rāhui, midwives and whakawhānau have continued to provide expert knowledge and support to parents, helping to welcome their babies into the world. We recognise the challenges you have faced in your mahi and cannot express enough the depth of gratitude that whānau all around Aotearoa have for you.

We thank you for your resilience and bravery, and for the life-nurturing care that you bring.

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