NZNO North Shore members are gathering outside the North Shore Hospital at 2pm on Friday (20 April) to add their voice to the nations’ DHB nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants that are joining together across New Zealand. Today Waikato Nurses are also rallying along with Whakatane.

Members are rallying to bring to the attention of the public their dissatisfaction about the government’s under investment into quality patient care, nurses’ pay and safe staffing. There are many more rallies happening across the country over the coming week: (www.healthneedsnursing.nz)

NZNO delegate, senior midwife and nurse, Zenzi Grabowski says DHBs are unacceptably underfunded and the hospitals are chock-a-block with patients and understaffed.

“The health budget has not kept up with the needs of an ageing and growing population and the increasing number of people presenting with multiple health needs,” she said.

“In this environment we unable to attract and keep enough nurses and midwives as they continue to roll out the door, leaving the NZ health workforce.

“Mothers are coming in to labour with more complex health issues but there are not enough midwives and nurses to take care of mothers and their babies as well as they could.

“We are consistently stepping up providing a highly skilled level of nursing care as we help the also under staffed doctors but our remuneration does not properly reflect this.

“The enthusiasm for this rally is growing as everyone is looking forward to standing up with pride for themselves and those they care for. New Zealanders all deserve better.

NZNO campaign activities are planned throughout New Zealand to show government that New Zealanders need it to prioritise rebuilding a quality public health system by investing in nursing, the largest health workforce.
ENDS

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