MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2004

Senior Doctors Endorse Nurses’ Concern Over Alarming Loss Of Nurses In DHBs

''Senior doctors endorse the concern of nurses over the alarming loss of nurses in district health boards,'' said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today. Mr Powell was responding to the reported loss of one in five nurses at the Wellington-based Capital & Coast District Health Board last year.

“Perhaps only patients know better than senior doctors know how critical it is to have an adequate and stable number of nurses in the operating theatres, clinics, wards and in community services. Senior doctors also know how much the loss of nurses affects the quality of patient care. The Nurses Organisation is correct in stating that the loss of nurses is a serious national as well as Wellington problem.”

“The most important relationship in district health boards is the relationship and collaboration between doctors and nurses. Losing valuable nurses seriously reduces the effectiveness and benefits for patients of this relationship.”

“The main problem is that district health boards continue to devalue nurses and fail to provide fair and internationally competitive employment and safe working conditions.”

“District health boards are so focussed on short-term crisis management that they are ignoring one of their greatest assets, nurses,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR