Members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) are rallying across the country today, calling on the Government to boost health funding in this year’s Budget amid widespread staffing issues.
Figures released by Health NZ Te Whatu Ora under the Official Information Act show 26% of nursing shifts in New Zealand were below target staffing numbers last year.
Kerri Nuku from the NZNO told Breakfast this morning that understaffing is a “chronic” and “critical” issue, leading to delays.
She called it a “crisis” — and understaffing can also create increased risk to patient safety, she added.
“If we haven’t got staff on the wards to be able to provide adequate care, that is significant.
“[We’re] more likely to get poorer patient outcomes as a consequence,” Nuku explained.
“If we have patients in the wards that are continually exposed to this understaffing, it increases the mortality rates for those patients.”
She said the problem is “systemic” and children’s wards are among those affected.
“The plea today is that the Government and the public stand up and say, ‘This is not good enough’.
“Nurses must tell their stories,” Nuku added.
“Often they’re the heroes, the unsung heroes that go to work every day and cope with these demands and pressures.”
Nurse-to-patient ratios in the spotlight
Nuku raised nurse-to-patient ratios, echoing a statement from the NZNO ahead of the rallies.
“The nurses, at the Day of Action will be picketing to highlight unsafe staffing levels and speaking with the public about culturally appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios as a way of addressing the nursing staffing crisis,” the NZNO said.
“Nurse-to-patient ratios have been implemented in Australia, California, British Columbia, Ireland and Wales, with exceptional results for nurses, patients and health budgets, and NZNO members want them put in place here, enforced by legislation.”
Nuku added: “Skills mix and cultural appropriateness are also important to the staff we have on hand to provide care and Aotearoa could be a world leader in developing a ratios system that also meets our obligations under te Tiriti.”