More nurses mean safer patients, say Greens

Too few nurses working on our hospital wards is putting patient safety at risk, Green MP Sue Kedgley warned today.

The Green Party is backing a call from the Nurses Organisation for a binding ratio of one nurse to between four and six patients, depending on the size of hospital.

"Nurses are struggling under excessive workloads," Ms Kedgley, the Green Health spokesperson, said. "Until we put in place safe staffing ratios, patient safety will continue to be compromised and our young, talented nursing staff will head overseas to countries where their skills are recognised and rewarded."

Ms Kedgley said she was astonished that the Ministry of Health was opposing what most people would agree were sensible recommendations from the Nurses Organisation.

"Until the Ministry pulls its head out of the sand and accepts that we have a nursing crisis we will continue to suffer chronic nursing shortages in the profession and patient safety will continue to be compromised."

© Scoop Media