Nursing leaders set out hopes for new Health Minister's agenda

6 October 2014
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Nurses' union NZNO hopes incoming Health Minister Jonathan Coleman pays close attention to health funding as "current financial constraints are creating unsafe working conditions for staff", while the College of Nurses is keen for him to remove barriers to workforce flexibility.

Memo MusaMemo Musa, chief executive of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), said NZNO was looking forward to a constructive and fruitful relationship with newly announced Minister of Health, Jonathan Coleman.

“Minister Coleman has the credentials to be an effective Minister of Health, having previously been an Associate Minister of Health working closely with Tony Ryall. He has a good understanding of the health system and listens well to matters of importance to nursing.”

Musa said nurses would continue to push for a sustainable nursing workforce, safe clinical environments and funded ‘entry to practice’ programmes and employment for all new graduate nurses.

“We will work with Minister Coleman toward achieving a health system that has the right number (and) right skill mix of nurses in the right place to ensure safe and high quality nursing care."

"We hope Minister Coleman pays close attention to the funding of public health services as current financial constraints are creating unsafe working conditions for staff and the possibility of sub-optimal care for patients.” Musa said. 

Professor Jenny Carryer, executive director of the College of Nurses, said the College agreed with the NZNO CEO that Dr Coleman brought a useful background to becoming Minister of Health.

"We look forward to a constructive relationship with renewed attention to removing the barriers to workforce flexibility and thus ensuring that New Zealand's most vulnerable citizens have 100 per cent access to safe health care services and health promotion focus," she said.

"We especially hope that the new Minister will be open to recognising the importance of intersectoral work across justice, education, housing, and food and nutrition as critical sources of influence on health status."

Musa said nurses would continue to push for a sustainable nursing workforce, safe clinical environments and funded ‘entry to practice’ programmes and employment for all new graduate nurses.

“We will work with Minister Coleman toward achieving a health system that has the right number (and) right skill mix of nurses in the right place to ensure safe and high quality nursing care."

"We hope Minister Coleman pays close attention to the funding of public health services as current financial constraints are creating unsafe working conditions for staff and the possibility of sub-optimal care for patients.” Musa said. 

Professor Jenny Carryer, executive director of the College of Nurses, said the College agreed with the NZNO CEO that Dr Coleman brought a useful background to becoming Minister of Health.

"We look forward to a constructive relationship with renewed attention to removing the barriers to workforce flexibility and thus ensuring that New Zealand's most vulnerable citizens have 100 per cent access to safe health care services and health promotion focus," she said.

"We especially hope that the new Minister will be open to recognising the importance of intersectoral work across justice, education, housing, and food and nutrition as critical sources of influence on health status."