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Nurses concerned by loss of leadership roles
Media Release
18 May 2010
Nurses very concerned by loss of nursing leadership roles
The New
Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is concerned that
decisions being made in the health sector by Southern Health
and by merging Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), are
removing nursing leadership from the region.
“The
reduction in nursing leadership across these sectors will
increase financial and clinical risk substantially rather
than reduce it,” says NZNO Professional Nursing Advisor,
Cathy Gilmore.
“Clinical leadership positions are being cut and the result will be the loss of infrastructure and support for good nursing practice in Otago and Southland. High level nursing leadership positions are necessary for ongoing education and clinical support for nurses, especially given the isolation of the rural areas in the region.
“The 2006 Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Safe Staffing and Healthy Workplaces says that nursing leadership should have formal accountability and authority for quality patient care and for nursing services. It also states that there should be sufficient nursing leaders in place to support safe and healthy workplaces, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is clear that health managers in Otago and Southland have completely disregarded the recommendations of this inquiry.
“The restructuring decisions being made in Otago and Southland fly in the face of the health Minister’s call for the strengthening of clinical leadership.
“It is crucial that Southern Health steps back and considers before they restructure the entire health landscape of the region. Cuts made to nursing leadership positions now will not only have an immediate impact but also affect the long term sustainability of the nursing workforce and the overall health system.” Cathy Gilmore said.
NZNO is concerned that this government’s roll-out of new and changed health services and providers is anything but the seamless change it promised. New Zealand needs sound strategic decision making about our health services and the workforce those services will need.
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