The Primary and Community Health Association (PCHA) says New Zealand’s struggling health system has been dealt another significant blow that will have a detrimental impact in local communities.

PCHA Board Chair Steve Chadwick says the government’s fast tracked changes to the Equal Pay Act 1972 and halting progress of any existing claims is a kick in the gut to the many nurses who work in primary and community healthcare.

She calls on the Health Minister Simeon Brown to show more respect for the many nurses and carers who have dedicated their lives to supporting their community.

“This government shows absolute disregard for the important role that primary and community care nurses and carers play in the health of New Zealanders,” Steve said.

“Minister Simeon Brown should be ashamed of this action. It is wrong and it is abusive.”

Steve says that by halting pay equity claim action and amending the Equal Pay Act 1972, community nurses and carers who have been battling for years to close the pay gap with their hospital counterparts will have to go back to the drawing board.

“What the government is actually doing is saying to not only community nurses and carers, but also local communities is, ‘You don’t matter. Your jobs and your health are not a priority to us.’”

The Government will ammend the Equal Pay Act 1972 to tighten the pay equity criteria, making it harder for pay equity claims to be sought. Additional to this, any existing pay equity claims will be halted and those claims will need to be resubmitted under the new and more stringent criteria.

“What is also alarming is that the reason for this action is to ‘reduce the cost to the Crown’,” Steve said.

“This signals that the Government is intent on crushing the health system in order to pay for tax cuts and money for landlords. This will send the health of individuals, families and communities, many of whom are already struggling under this government, into further decline.”

“That in itself is a false economy and drives false savings – while they pinch money from community services, they will inevitably have to spend more money to prop up hospital services when people become very unwell – it’s completely nonsensical.”

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