Kathryn George / Stuff
Whangārei nurse Rachel Thorn says nurses have started filling gaps in rosters in protest at the unfair conditions. (File photo)
Exhausted Whangarei Nurses are arguing for higher incentives because they are outraged that doctors earn eight times more for extra shifts.
About 80 nurses have signed a letter requesting better payment incentives, which has been delivered to: Whangarei Hospital on Thursday.
The nurses’ union, the New Zealand Nurses Organization, said Whangārei was the starting point – nurses across the country were affected and a national response was expected.
Whangārei nurse Rachel Thorn, who coordinated the letter, said the nurses were starting to stop filling grid gaps in because of the unfair terms.
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“Many of us refuse to take on the stress of extra services because it’s just not worth the personal cost.”
The union said it would file a claim next week for “significant improvement” in payments at Health New Zealand.
Thorn said the hospital was overloaded and… understaffedwith nurses exhausted from working extra shifts to fill gaps.
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Health Minister Andrew Little tells Stuff health reporter Rachel Thomas that the government has money in the bank to pay nurses and claims the New Zealand nurses’ organization is “the hindrance”. (Video first published on July 14, 2022)
“The ward is full, the waiting room is full, the hospital is full and there is no place to send people to, patients can wait for the emergency room 24 hours at a time.”
Her department had 11 full-time employees and the roster often had 35-50 gaps a week. There were 140 holes in the August roster, she said.
Nurses worked hundreds of hours of overtime and not being paid fairlyshe said.
Previously, incentive rates were set by individual district health boards, Thorn said.
Wages varied depending on the district and shift work, but nurses in the Waikato with a base rate of $35 per hour could earn higher payments of up to $70 per hour for additional shift work.
Now, under Health New Zealand, incentive payments are centralized.
According to an email Health New Zealand sent to Northland District staff, registered nurses could earn an additional $100 for each shift worked over and above their normal full-time equivalent.
The offer included an allowance of $800 for five additional nights worked between now and September 30.
Danica MacLean/Stuff
Thorn said a time-and-a-half similar to Waikato’s previous rate would be acceptable and equitable for district nurses in Northland. (File photo)
But Thorn said the extra payments to doctors were eight times higher, depending on the timing of the extra services. They can be offered up to $220 per hour.
“Nurses really don’t feel respected… The doctors we spoke to agree and are shocked by the offer. Fees should increase by the same percentage for nurses who are just as important to patient well-being.”
Thorn said a time and a half, similar to Waikato’s previous rate, would be acceptable and fair.
She said nurses had started to stop taking up extra shifts, with plans to continue that next week.
MONIQUE FORD/Things
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora CEO Margie Apa.
“The vast majority will not take on extra shifts, but a few can extend to 12-hour shifts as this is paid as overtime.
“Some employees need extra money, so we understand the need,” she said.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora chief executive Margie Apa acknowledged differences in existing incentive schemes between districts as a result of the DHB system.
A series of temporary trigger points have been developed, to be applied nationwide, for incentives during the current winter period, she said.
“We continue to assess what further steps can be taken to free up staff from other areas to support any emergency room rosters that may be under pressure.”