Nursing reports

Media Release                             25 October 2017

NZNO ready to meet with new Health Minister

Acting chief executive Jane MacGeorge congratulates Dr David Clark on his appointment as Minister of Health and says he shows good understanding of social determinants of health such as poverty, social environments and housing quality. 

NZNO’s leaders are planning to meet with the minister soon to discuss building a more sustainable nursing workforce and, the need for nurses to be consulted and included on policy matters that involve nursing and health.

“We are pleased to see the new ministerial portfolios have a strong emphasis on ending child poverty and commend the incoming prime minister’s stance on taking this serious matter on herself as a new minister,” Jane MacGeorge said.

“Dr David Clark has committed the new government to put back the $2billion missing in the health spend and both the new deputy prime minister and the prime minster have signed the NZNO open letter calling on the previous government to increase the health spend.

“The health spend freeze of the last few years has had a negative impact on the nursing workforce because of the strain of covering during staff shortages and the subsequent inability for nurses to take time away from work for professional development. This has meant many are unsatisfied with the care they can provide to patients and the restraints on ways to further their career development.

“We want to see more Māori nurses attracted into nursing and more nurses going into mental health, we also want our more senior experienced nurses to stay in nursing and for employers to accommodate their needs to keep them in the profession.

“We commend New Zealand First on the coalition agreement that includes commitment to annual free health checks for seniors and free doctor’s visits for under 14s,” Jane MacGeorge said.

Media enquiries: Karen Coltman (temporary number today is 021 574 156.

Media Release 20 October 2017 - New Govt - two months to Christmas

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) acting Chief Executive Jane MacGeorge says nurses welcome the new government and are looking forward to a reversal of the 2017 ‘scrooge health budget’ and the $2B going back into health.

Jane MacGeorge today says health was the number one election issue and a clear ‘shout out’ to those standing to represent the public and run the country. NZNO is pleased with many of the Labour Party initiatives promised such as nurses in schools, more money for delivery of primary health care for mental health and reduced fees for doctor’s visits. The 48,000 strong membership have also clearly seen the negative effects of poor housing on the health of children.

“It is only six months until this government delivers its first budget and we are looking forward to a proper funding correction to the health budget after years of funding stagnation,” Jane MacGeorge said.

“The underfunding of our health services has led several DHBs to cut costs, resulting in fewer nurses being available to ensure safe staffing levels and practice and cut backs in expenditure on basic healthcare tools.

“Many nurses we have surveyed said they believe this cost-cutting is affecting the pace of recovery of their patients.

“Underfunding ripples across the system, for example, limiting the time nurses have to support new graduates, attract and retain senior staff, take up new training and has a negative impact on job satisfaction and workplace relations.

“Many DHBs now report no more savings are to be found. There is no more room to cut nurse staffing numbers to save more costs. As state sector employers DHBs know they can’t continue to run their staff ragged, and not take care of their staff well-being,” Jane MacGeorge said.

NZNO will present its briefing to the incoming minister in due course and also  hand over to the new Minister of Health 6000 signed Shout Out for Health letters from members and the public shouting out for greater public investment in the health care.

Ends.

Media enquiries: Karen Coltman 027 431 2617.

Media Release 10 October 2017 - NZNO mourn their kuia Vera Morgan (MBE)

Several representatives of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation were this morning at the tangi beginning at the Pipitea marae in Thorndon to welcome Vera Morgan back onto to the marae after her passing.

Vera Morgan began her involvement with NZNO 17 years ago. She was invited into the NZNO whānau by the then Te Rūnanga Chair, Sharon Morunga. During her time with NZNO she worked alongside Rev Leo Te Kira as they both developed the NZNO Philosophy – “Me haeretahi tātou mō te hauora me te oranga o ngā iwi katoa o Aotearoa: let us journey together for the health and wellbeing of the people of Aotearoa”

NZNO Kaiwhakahaera Kerri Nuku:  “Mai ra e te Rangatira o Waima, haere atu ra ki Hawaiki nui, Hawaiki roa, Hawaiki pamamao.”

“We join with other groups paying their respects to this dynamic, staunch, well known and inspiring kuia, we were honoured to have her with us for 17 years,” Kerri Nuku said.

“We send our condolences to her remaining children and whānau and thank them for sharing their beloved mother with the whole Wellington Community, and in particular the New Zealand nurses.

“Aunty Vera believed in the strength of community in action and always reminded us to walk our talk at all times,” she said.

‘Aunty Vera’ came to Wellington from the Hokianga at age 18 years where she joined the Ngāti Pōneke Young Māori Club.  In 1978 she received a Queen's Service Medal and in 1998 she became a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. She has held leadership roles with the Māori Women's Welfare League and was a formative leader of the annual NZNO Matariki celebrations. In 2006 she was awarded the NZNO Te Rūnanga Akenei Hei Memorial Award. This award was established to mark 100 years of nursing registration in New Zealand.

E kore au e ngaro; he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea.

Aroha mai, aroha atu

Kia mau koe ki ngā kupu o ou tupuna

Ends.

Media release 28 September 2017 - Children and youth living in squalor a national shame

NZNO is very concerned by anecdotal reports covered in the New Zealand Herald on Friday 22 September, from a midwife who bravely shared her distress about housing poverty and resulting infant and child illness and unwanted pregnancy as the result of incest. Other midwives and nurses have said her reports are familiar.

Associate Professional Services Manager, Hilary Graham-Smith says this shame is the impact of poor housing and poverty and, limited access to good health care.

“It is well documented that poor housing takes its toll on the health of children. Preventable diseases such as skin infections, rickets and respiratory diseases should not be a feature for any child growing up in Aotearoa, Hilary Graham-Smith said.

“Incest, resulting in mental and physical trauma and unwanted pregnancies for young women, is an indictment on the conditions in which some people live because of poverty that is leading to unwanted bed sharing, substance abuse and inadequate accommodation.

“We are speaking out in support of this midwife to let New Zealanders know the mental health and general health risks when people live in cars and garages and in squalor and call on the next government to urgently turn this shame around.

 “We agree with and support Women's Health Action maternal and child health manager, Isis McKay that it is important for health professionals to speak out and highlight these terrible situations and the physical and mental health effect on children.

“The new government must get people out of living in cars and damp garages and ensure tamariki are physically and sexually safe. This is not a 100 day aim, this is now, immediately,” Hilary Graham-Smith said.

ENDS.

Media enquiries: media adviser Karen Coltman 027 431 2617.

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.