Around 80% of nurses in primary health care have thought about quitting their jobs within the last six months, according to a survey conducted by Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO.
According to NZNO’s primary health care spokesperson Tracey Morgan, it’s understandable that 80% of respondents have considered leaving the sector given that 78% report their workload has increased over the past few years.
“Primary health care in Aotearoa New Zealand is in crisis,” Morgan said.
“Patients and whānau are often unable to get in to see their doctor or nurse for several weeks, leaving them sicker by the time they can get the health care they need.”
“One of the main drivers of this crisis is chronic staff shortages. Nurses are leaving general practices to work in hospitals, where they earn up to 11% more or for Australia, where they are paid significantly more. Our survey found 42% had thought about going overseas.”
“Our communities deserve accessible care, and our nurses deserve fair pay,” Morgan added.
She said primary care nurses had hoped that a pay equity settlement would address the undervaluation of their work. However, the Coalition Government’s decision to repeal the legislation means their wages will remain low for a longer period.
Morgan said both the Coalition Government and the Opposition now agree the primary health care funding model is flawed.
“NZNO welcomes the focus on primary health care, but there must be a bipartisan commitment and approach to creating a sustainable new funding model.”
“That funding model must ensure that primary care nurses are paid the same as their Te Whatu Ora counterparts. Only then will they stop leaving primary health care.”