Invercargill nurses to hold rally to address nursing 'crisis'
"So much has been asked of nurses, and they have delivered like the courageous and professional workforce they are, right across the Health Sector."
Invercargill nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora - alongside their whānau and communities - will be holding a rally at 11am at the Gala Street Reserve on Saturday. It is one of 19 rallies being held across the country on the day.
The rallies, organised by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO), will see members, their friends and their families rising up to march, hear speeches, wave banners and enjoy family-focused activities, between 11am and Noon.
The rallies will be an opportunity for NZNO members and their Southland communities to call on political parties to have policies this election year to address the nursing crisis and for health to top their list of election priorities.
"So much has been asked of nurses, and they have delivered like the courageous and professional workforce they are, right across the Health Sector," said NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter.
"But decades of poor planning, inadequate funding and outright neglect across successive governments have led us to a time of absolute crisis in terms of pay, staffing resources and morale across the nursing sector."
He said just about any nurse you speak to will say patients are not receiving adequate care.
"That’s worrying for our elderly and infirm but it’s also soul-destroying for nurses. Add to that poor conditions, chronic overwork and the Government’s refusal to settle outstanding pay issues, and it’s no wonder thousands have left for Australia and thousands more are making plans to leave.
"We need 4000-5000 more nurses; it’s as simple as that. So, we want to see everything possible being done to recruit them without delay, and for all politicians to get behind this with their support."
NZNO will also be launching a petition at the rallies calling on political parties to commit to fixing the nursing crisis and Paul Goulter said it is anticipated the petition response will be massive.
"This is a chance for the public in Aotearoa New Zealand to express their concerns for the wellbeing of our nurses and their concerns about the future of our health system.
"We invite the public to join us between 11am and Noon at the Gala Street Reserve, where there will be speeches followed by fun and whānau activities."