Report: Better Nurses' Working Conditions Needed

Report Confirms Better Working Conditions Needed In Health

"The Nurses Organisation strongly backs the key conclusion of the Health Workforce Advisory Committee report released today," said Geoff Annals, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation CEO, following the release of the report.

“The report is clear that achieving good patient care is dependent on ensuring all the factors that create good working conditions for health workers are there.”

Geoff Annals said the report rightly identified workplace culture, including leadership, national focus and good human resource policies as vital to good patient care.

“But there are some huge omissions in the report, including the impact of student debt, and shortages of nurses and other health workers,” he said.

“The report also fails to recognise the important role of unions and the necessity for unions and employers to work together to change our health workplace culture to one that can deliver the patient outcomes New Zealanders want.”

Geoff Annals said that what was still lacking was an acceptance of responsibility for changing the health workforce.

“Although light on specifics, the report identifies that there is a problem with the workforce culture and a framework for the health workforce, but does not identify who is responsible for implementing change,” he said.

Geoff Annals said that, now the report was completed, the Minister had to ensure that there was delivery on the recommendations.

“Also there is a strong role for unions and employers to pick up issues and work together in range of tripartite forums to ensure we change the culture,” he said.

Geoff Annals said the Nurses Organisation would take up that work with the national DHB organisation, DHBNZ, with district health boards and with government.

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