Nurses Organisation Backs PlunketLine Petition

4 May 2006

Nurses Organisation Backs PlunketLine Petition

“The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is offering strong support to PlunketLine and is inviting members to sign the national petition calling on government to properly fund it,” said NZNO spokeswoman Cee Payne-Harker today.

“Many NZNO members have expressed shock at the Ministry of Health’s decision to stop funding the PlunketLine service and we know there is strong support from our nearly 40,000 members for the petition,” said Cee Payne-Harker.

“The nursing community knows that any problems with PlunketLine were not a result of Plunket’s performance, but lack of funding.”

Cee Payne-Harker said, despite allegations of Plunket failing to perform, Plunket was funded to answer up to 70,000 call per year and was currently answering 76,000.

“Parents call PlunketLine because it is PlunketLine and they can talk to a Plunket Nurse who they trust,” she said.

“Plunket nurses are the heart of PlunketLine. They are registered nurses with a postgraduate qualification. Healthline does not have these specialist telenurses. You can’t take the Plunket out of PlunketLine.”

ENDS

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