Labours Primary Health Care Strategy Positive

Press release below:

12 September 2008

Labours Primary Health Care Strategy Positive for Nurses

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation(NZNO) is welcoming the Labour Party policy for primary health as announced today by David Cunliffe.

NZNO supports and agrees that the further appropriate development of a multi disciplinary primary care workforce, including nurses at all levels, and a full range of other health professionals alongside GPs, is essential. Workforce planning and equitable access to funding for frontline services must support this integrated, team based approach.

NZNO Professional Nursing Advisor, Angela Clark agrees that “Nursing practice must be aligned with community need and calls on the govt to charge each DHB with exploring alternative models of healthcare delivery in the primary health care setting."

“The vision outlined today by Mr Cunliffe will not be fully implemented if NZ continues to have a nursing workforce shortage. The financial barriers to students wishing to undertake nursing training must be removed.” Clark said.

“NZNO supports the need for excellent, high quality primary health to be provided at low cost to the community and that the government has a responsibility to provide such care” said Clark

ENDS

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