PM’s Prioritising of Aged Care Funding

2 February 2005

Nurses’ Organisation Welcomes PM’s Prioritising of Aged Care Funding

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has welcomed the Prime Ministers’ commitment to prioritise aged care funding this parliamentary year.

In her statement to Parliament yesterday Helen Clark said resolving the long term funding pressures in aged care was a “top priority”.

“There is an urgent need to dramatically increase the funding to the aged care sector and to ensure that funding is targeted to addressing low pay and understaffing across the sector,” said NZNO spokeswoman Cee Payne-Harker.

Cee Payne-Harker said unions in aged care were embarking on a Fair Share for Aged Care campaign to achieve realistic funding for the sector in this year’s budget.

As part of the campaign there is a Day of Action across the country on February 9 when caregivers, nurses and other aged care workers will collect signatures on a postcard to the Prime Minister.

The postcard calls for adequate funding for aged care, targeted to fair pay and adequate staffing levels.

Cee Payne-Harker had no doubt the public supported the campaign.

“We’ll be asking New Zealanders to demonstrate support and tell the Prime Minister they want government to provide the funding to ensure rest homes, private hospitals and dementia care homes have adequate numbers of fully trained and properly paid staff,” she said.

ENDS

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