Health funds needs boost to invest in workforce, not bosses

Health funding needs boost to invest in workforce, not more rises for bosses

The Public Service Association (PSA) says that health sector funding needs to increase and be targeted at the workforce who have struggled with wages falling further below the cost-of-living at the same time as workloads intensify.

Erin Polaczuk, PSA national secretary, said “Recent news of pay increases for many DHB chief executives will not sit well with hard-working health workers,”

“The nearly 17,000 PSA members working for DHBs across New Zealand are passionate about helping to improve public health, but budget shortfalls are making it harder and harder.

“New Zealand’s increasing and ageing population is placing greater demands on the system but funding is not keeping up.

“The artificial cap on administrative staff means that doctors and nurses are spending less time with patients and more time on paperwork.

“The cost of living is fast moving out of reach for many health workers and the prospects for a real pay rise this year are not positive with the Government signalling further cuts to health.

“The health sector needs a significant funding boost in this year’s Budget, and securing this should be top of Minister Coleman’s agenda,” said Erin Polaczuk.

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