Dying NZers & Their Families Will Fund The Shortfall Between Pay For A Nurse In A Hospital & A Nurse In A Hospice

Hospice New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Wayne Naylor, says he extremely concerned about the effect changes to the Pay Equity legislation will have.

“Dying New Zealanders and their families will fund the difference between the pay for a nurse in a hospital and a nurse at a hospice,” says Mr Naylor.

Health New Zealand has so far declined to adjust funding so that hospice nurses and their assistants can be paid the same as if they worked at their local hospital.

The nursing rates that are paid at the local hospital are set by Health New Zealand and paid for by all New Zealand taxpayers. The pay for nurses working in hospices relies very heavily (at least 35%) on fundraising (such as the local hospice op-shop) and donations from families and communities.

“To fund the widening pay gap is simply beyond the ability of hospices to do,” says Mr Naylor. “Some have paid their nurses more than they can afford just to keep their nurses and keep providing care. Some can’t even do that and are looking to cut back services.

“If these patients were cared for by the local hospital the nurses there would be paid more, but of course the local hospital would be put under huge pressure should that happen.

“We want to record a cry for help for the 19,000 New Zealanders and their families we care for every year – help us keep our nurses!” says Mr Naylor.

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