Team Effort Guarantees Patient Care During Strike

30 August 2004

Team Effort Guarantees Patient Care During Strike

The Nurse Maude Association says it is extremely grateful for the help and support it received during a four-hour strike by its nurses today.

Nurse Maude Association Chief Executive Ingrid Thomas says the association had prepared well to ensure patient care was not compromised when its nurses, represented by the New Zealand Nurse Organisation, took strike action.

“I would just like to thank our staff, board members and other volunteers who helped care for our patients. Everyone did an amazing job of pulling together,” Mrs Thomas says.

She also appreciated the offer of support to deliver patient care from other health providers, including the Canterbury District Health Board, Pegasus Health and two rest homes.

Mrs Thomas says Nurse Maude organised additional nursing resources for its afternoon shift to cope with any increased demands following the industrial action.

“We have been upfront and fair in our offer, but there is just no more money in our budget to meet their claim. Remuneration for the Association’s nurses is already comparable with other providers and in some areas it is significantly better,” Mrs Thomas says.

“Nurse Maude nurses in general have favourable working conditions including family friendly nursing hours and excellent educational opportunities. Most of the care is provided to long-term elderly and disability patients.

Nurse Maude pay rates certainly benchmark well with nurses working within the sector.” Mrs Thomas says.

ENDS

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