Nursing reports

12 June 2012:

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and the Service and Food Workers Union today announced the settlement of a nine-month pay dispute with the Oceania rest home group.

SFWU spokesperson Alastair Duncan said the settlement secured a 3.22% pay raise for 1500 union members employed by Oceania. The settlement also saw the protection of overtime and other rights which the employer had sought to reduce.

“The key issue in this dispute was getting government money passed on to the workforce and we are pleased that Oceania has now understood the need to pass on the funding it receives from District Health Boards to the care staff,” said Alastair Duncan.

Alastair Duncan says the fact that it took nine months of conflict was disappointing and highlighted a sector wide problem of underfunding and a lack of focus on the true value of care staff.

“We now look forward to working with Oceania, and other aged care employers, to ensure the sector does its utmost to persuade the government to increase the funding levels for what is one of this country’s fastest growing industries,” NZNO spokesperson David Wait said.

Both unions say the recently released Human Rights Commission led by Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Judy McGregor enquiry into the sector provides a timely opportunity for unions and employers to work together.

“The desperate need for better funding, safe staffing and mandatory training and support are all highlighted in the report,” David Wait said.

“As the largest care provider in the sector we expect Oceania to use its influence to engage with the government and DHBs so that there truly can be a ‘fair share, for aged care’,” Alastair Duncan said.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Alastair Duncan 0272 456 593 or David Wait 0274 810 514

7 June 2012:

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is pleased that the Health Research Council (HRC) is funding an important research project, “Māori nurses and smoking – exploring the context and opportunity for change”. The project is a joint venture between Te Runanga o Aotearoa NZNO, Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development and Auckland University of Technology and will develop tools to help Māori nurses quit smoking.

Researchers working with the project include two Māori nurses who have extensive experience working in the field of Māori health research; Dr Heather Gifford and Associate Professor Denise Wilson. They will be working with NZNO researcher Dr Léonie Walker to carry out the research. 

Dr Walker says, “I’m delighted with the HRC funding! In the current climate of tight funding, this grant recognises the importance of the work.”

“The project will use kaupapa Māori research methods to design interventions with Māori nurses to help them quit smoking. It is the first of a two-phase project to design new interventions that are specific to and informed by the experiences of smokers themselves. We will work closely with Māori nurses who smoke and will recruit participants from across the country and within a range of sectors,”

NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the research funding is fantastic news, “We have known for some time that Māori nurses’ smoking rates are much higher than they should be. Finding out why that is and developing ways to help nurses quit will have wider health benefits than just for the individuals who stop smoking.”

“Nurses are role models. Research shows advice and support from nursing staff can increase people’s success in quitting smoking, especially in a hospital setting. It is hoped Māori nurses, in particular, can play a role in dramatically improving quit rates amongst Māori, who bear the greatest burden of ill health and death caused by smoking.

“By using the information we gather in constructive and positive ways we can go some way towards undoing the terrible damage caused by the tobacco industry over past decades. Rather than punishing Māori nurses who smoke, we can work together towards a healthier future for Aotearoa,” Nuku says.

3 June 2012:

A New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) survey of members working at Auckland DHB has shown shortages of over 120 registered nurse positions, 48 alone at Starship Children’s Hospital.

NZNO organiser Craig Muir says, “These shortages are shocking. NZNO members have been telling us how overworked they are but we had no idea how bad it was. Running a DHB 120 nurses short is dangerous! It’s dangerous for overworked, stressed staff and the flow on effect of that is concern for patient care.”

“Nurses pride themselves on the professional and technical work they do under trying circumstances. To hear that our members are willing to take their concerns to the media means the situation is very serious.”

“NZNO works closely with the DHB to resolve issues such as these. We are not always able to secure a safe result for patients and staff. We know the DHB is trying to save $4million. We also know that leaving 120 positions unfilled is not the way to do it,” Muir says.

“All New Zealanders ought to be able to rely on the best possible care when they are in hospital. It’s hard to see how that can happen when wards are so short staffed. Overwork and burn out inevitably lead to lower standards of care. It is only a matter of time before a serious incident occurs.”

Muir says that the situation could easily be resolved if the DHB prioritised staffing levels and patient care, “DHBs and unions need to draw a line in the sand – cost cutting should not impact on staffing and quality patient care.”

31 May 2012:

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is celebrating World Smokefree Day – a global event that draws attention to the effects of smoking, on Thursday 31 May. 

NZNO kaiwhakahaere, Kerri Nuku is a member of Smokefree Nurses Aotearoa New Zealand (SNANZ) and is NZNO’s spokesperson for Smokefree Coalition Tupeka Kore Campaign. She is clear about the need for stronger action to increase quit rates.

“We are pleased to see price increases for tobacco in the 2012 Budget. Aiming for a Smokefree Aotearoa is a top priority for nurses and hitting consumers in the pocket is one way to do it.

Nuku is clear that price rises should not be the only way though. “We must ensure that smokers are supported in their quit attempts every step of the way; that means holistic, culturally appropriate and community based quitting services.”

“Raising tobacco prices is not a magic bullet and kaimahi hauora and nurses who work in the community know that some low income families will struggle. If the right stop-smoking services aren’t in place, higher prices will mean families are disadvantaged.”

“As health professionals, we deal first hand with the consequences of tobacco use every day. We see its effects on our patients’ physical and mental health, and the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of their whānau,” she says. 

“Eradicating smoking is the single most important and attainable thing we can do to reduce inequalities in mortality for Māori and Pacific peoples and NZNO members are committed to supporting patients to quit and stay quit.” Kerri Nuku says.

For further information about quitting smoking, phone Quitline on 0800 778778 or visit www.quit.org.nz More information about World Smokefree Day can be found at www.worldsmokefreeday.org.nz

27 May 2012:

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) commends the Human Rights Commission (HRC) for its excellent report into conditions in the Aged Care sector and is very pleased with the report’s recommendations. The report sends a clear signal to the Government and all New Zealanders that the Aged Care sector needs an overhaul.

NZNO Industrial Adviser Rob Haultain says, “The report confirms what we’ve been fighting for. Unions have been campaigning for minimum safe staffing levels so that every resident gets the care they need, when they need it, for fair pay and conditions for aged care workers so their work is valued at the same level as health workers in public hospitals, a nationally recognised training and education programme for all aged care staff and a guarantee all government funding is earmarked for the quality care of residents.  Safe and professional care for aged care residents cannot be achieved without these core requirements being met”

“We hope the Government starts implementing the HRC’s recommendations right away.”

“Currently DHBs pass on funding to aged care providers in the full knowledge that workers will be getting pay rates that are far below what they would earn if they were doing the same job in a hospital. That’s not right. We are pleased to see the HRC recommend a more transparent process.”

Nurses and carers are also pleased to see the report is recommending that voluntary standards for safe aged care and dementia care, and the current voluntary standards for the home and community support sector become compulsory.

“We’ve seen voluntary standards being ignored and failing our elders and those who care for them for decades now. It’s time to make them compulsory. Let’s hope the Government listens to the Human Rights Commission,” says Haultain.

“A Minister for Older People in a top ten cabinet position would be a great start. NZNO looks forward to meeting with everybody who has a stake in the Aged Care sector at the HRC Summit!”
 

25 May 2012:

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) analysis of the health budget released yesterday shows that the Government has not prioritised a healthy New Zealand.

NZNO CEO, Geoff Annals says, “The Health Minister’s figures for new health spending and those of independent analysts do not add up. It is misleading to say that there is hundreds of millions of new money for health when, in fact, much of that money is coming from cuts to existing services and programmes and increasing the cost of others.”

“The bottom line is that there has not been enough money spent on health to retain the services we already have, and to pay for new initiatives.”

“Nurses are expecting to see user pays charges, cuts to services and jobs, and poorer, sicker patients arriving at hospital with the diseases and illness of poverty. We are in for a tough year. It will be especially tough for New Zealanders who have chronic illness and are poor, and the wider budget unfairly targets young New Zealanders" Annals says.

“There are some bright spots for health. The budget makes provision for more investment in school based health services, in better coordination of cancer care and in well child care. The Government should also be congratulated for continuing its strategy to reduce the harm caused by tobacco and beginning to address unhealthy housing.”

“Unfortunately, a few bright spots aren’t enough. Nurses want to see a reasonable and sustainable plan for a health system that works for everyone. Instead, we’ve got a sick budget with too many cuts and continuing body blows. A few band-aids won’t make this patient well.”

16 May 2012:

The NZNO Cancer Nurses Section endorses the initiative announced on the 14 May 2012 by Prime Minister John Key and Health Minister Tony Ryall of employing more cancer care coordinators across New Zealand.

NZNO Cancer Nurses Section chair Wendy Thomas says, “This expansion of advanced nursing roles in patients’ journeys will contribute significantly to the delivery of quality cancer care for patients who often have complex needs.  As the joint announcement notes - the new dedicated cancer nurses will act as a single point of contact and assist patients and their families across different parts of the health service. This expands what is already happening in parts of the country and feedback from patients has been fantastic.”

“New Zealand has only a handful of specialist nurses in these positions at present. Increasing Cancer Nurse Coordinators will benefit patient care,  as experience in the United Kingdom, Canada and USA and Australia has shown. This will be a win-win situation for everyone involved.  Patients will receive improved quality care and the health system will see a reduction in use of resources. Evaluation of the service will identify the benefits and areas that require improvement.”  

For background on overseas experience, see report on Frontier Economics Research: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Documents/AboutUs/Commissioners/ClinicalNurseSpecialistsAnEvidenceReview2011.pdf
and the NSW Cancer Institute, cancer services evaluation  2011: http://www.cancerinstitute.org.au/publications/i/evaluation-of-the-cancer-services-infrastructure-support-program

15 May 2012:

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says the changes to employment law announced yesterday will be bad news for workers and the economy.

The changes include a change to the Employment Relations Act so that employers are not required to conclude a collective agreement, allowing employers to opt out of multi-employer bargaining and removing the 30-day rule that allows new workers to be covered by a collective agreement for the first 30 days of their employment.

“Contrary to what the Prime Minister is saying, these changes are not about fairness or flexibility. They are entirely about reducing workers’ rights. Allowing employers to opt out of multi-employer agreements will increase costs, drive wages down and reduce efficiencies,” says NZNO president Nano Tunnicliff.

“Currently all 20 district health boards (DHBs) negotiate a multi-employer collective agreement with unions. The agreement ensures workers throughout the country receive the same pay and conditions and DHBs receive the benefits and efficiencies of working together.”

“It seems strange that the Government has spent the last 3 and a half years telling the health sector to centralise services to gain efficiencies and yet these changes will allow the opposite to happen,” Tunnicliff says.

“What New Zealand needs is a strong, productive economy based on decent wages and working conditions. These changes to legislation will erode workers’ rights and drive down wages and conditions. They are bad faith law. ”

15 May 2012:

A pre-budget announcement that the Government is funding extra co-ordinating nurses to support those receiving cancer care, that more money is going to elective surgery and that prescription charges are rising is sending mixed messages about health says the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO).

“We are pleased to see improvements to cancer care. Forty extra nurses will make a huge difference to the experiences of those suffering from cancer,” says NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku.

“And it’s great to hear that waiting times are going down and more people are receiving elective surgery – but that’s only half the story. It is the increase in the cost of prescriptions that will pay for these services.”

“Increased prescription costs mean that many low income New Zealanders with high health needs will no longer be able to afford the medication they need. NZNO members working in palliative care already tell us they visit patients every day who have piles of unfilled prescriptions because they can’t afford to pay for them,” Nuku says.

“The Government is telling us that the money has to come from somewhere. There’s no arguing with that. What NZNO is saying is that the extra money needed for health should be coming from elsewhere; from the multi-billion dollar roading budget for example, not from within the existing health budget.”

“The health budget is not a closed loop. The Government does not need to give with one hand and take with the other. 46 000 NZNO members know that health should be a priority. Why doesn’t Tony Ryall?”

11 May 2012: Nurses all around the country are preparing to celebrate International Nurses Day tomorrow (Saturday 12 May). This year’s theme is Closing the Gap: from Evidence to Action and acknowledges the role nurses can play in improving the health of all.

International Nurses Day is marked on the anniversary of Crimean War nurse Florence Nightingale's birthday and is a chance for the public to recognise the important work nurses do.

Events are being held around the country, from health-related quiz nights to nursing award ceremonies.

The Auckland branch of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is celebrating International Nurses Day on Saturday 12 May in Aotea Square from 9am – 1pm. Members of the public will have the opportunity to talk to local nurses and get their health checked at the same time.

NZNO regional council chair and nurse, Sue Sharpe says, “There will be nurses on hand to check people’s blood pressure and blood sugar levels, give advice on becoming Smokefree and assist women over 45 register for free breast screening.”

“We’ll also be showing people how to use a defibrillator and where they are stored around the city. If someone is having a heart attack, a defibrillator could save their life.”

“There will be Plunket nurses, Practice nurses, Student nurses, nurses who can show you through the mobile asthma clinic and nurses who can talk to you about men’s health,” Sharpe says.

“If you are interested in a career in nursing or are currently studying to become a nurse come and ask us what we do or just come along to show support for your local nurses.”