Press Releases
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College Election Manifesto 2011
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College of Nurses manifesto 2011.pdf (0.03MB)
Press Release 6 October 2011-
Urgent need for collaboration and Innovation in aged care
“The sooner ALL interested parties get together to resolve the many complex issues inherent in aged care in New Zealand the better for all concerned, especially for older people” says Judy Yarwood, the Co-Chair of the College of Nurses (Aotearoa). Like so many other organisations and interested groups the College of Nurses wants a collaborative approach taken to focus urgently on services that will best suit the needs of older people.NZ Aged Care Association’s (NZACA) ‘quantity beds’ focus and NZ Nurses organisation (NZNO) safe staffing levels and educational qualifications of health care workers both raise entirely legitimate concerns.
However these are but two of a number of concerns surrounding care of the older person, be it in the community or in residential care. ALL stakeholders involved in the care of older people, including older people themselves are urged by the College of Nurses (Aotearoa) to work together to find creative solutions ways to ensure older people receive the best possible quality care.
One potential example is better use of gerontological Nurse Practitioners, who provide specialist care to the elderly. These practitioners are masters degree prepared nurses whose additional skills and knowledge can ensure older people are able to receive complex care without unnecessary admission to hospital. We agree with NZNO that training of caregivers and adequate numbers of registered nurses makes a critical difference to the quality and safety of care provided to the frail elderly. The College of Nurses believes caring for the elderly shouldn’t be used as a political football. Goodwill, strong leadership and collaboration across the sector, would progress the plight of so many older people to ensure they can age with respect and dignity in their place of choice.
Not being able to attract doctors to rural communities is not a new problem, and yet health organisations appear to have difficulty thinking outside the square.NPs, with their advanced qualifications and capabilities, could provide the necess
ry health services to rural communities without exorbitant amounts of tax payers dollars being spent on temporary solutions. Amidst frequent calls for more efficient and innovative ways to deliver health care, particularly in primary health care, the question, why not NPs? must be asked and answered.
Over a decade ago NPs began delivering health services in New Zealand making a real difference particularly in communities for whom access to health services are often difficult. These nurses have the knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose and treat people, which includes prescribing medication when necessary.
As health services are becoming increasingly difficult to access in rural communities the College of Nurses strongly urges the Minister of Health to ask questions. Why are huge sums of money paid for overseas locums, who frequently only stay for a year before being replaced by another equally expensive locum, when there are highly qualified and capable NPs available. The College of Nurses also notes that with active support and encouragement numerous willing candidates are prepared to take up the NP role here in New Zealand negating the need to hire expensive locums.
New Zealand based nurses who have undertaken the extra qualification towards the nurse practitioner role represent an available, permanent and strongly evidence based solution to the increasing problem of delivering first contact primary health care.
Press Release 26th July 2011 -
Child Poverty in New Zelaland
The College of Nurses Aotearoa is appalled to learn that 40,000 children in New Zealand are relying on charity for food, and asks how a country is able to spend so much on the forthcoming Rugby World cup when so many families are having difficulty providing food for their children.
The Child Poverty Action group’s call for the government to work with charities, business and community groups to underwrite breakfast programmes in decile 1 and 2 schools must be applauded, however this can only be an interim step towards ensuring all children have access to decent food every day. It’s a national disgrace, says the College of Nurses, when so many families are unable to provide decent food because of low wages and high food costs. It would appear that as a country we have yet to grasp the notion that ensuring children of today are well fed, educated and healthy will ensure the country’s success in the next generation. The gap between the rich and poor families continues to widen in this country, a situation that disadvantages all New Zealanders.
Reducing health inequalities is a matter of fairness, a notion New Zealanders pride themselves on. Having 40,000 children relying on charity to be fed is neither fair nor socially just. The College of Nurses Aotearoa would like to hear all New Zealanders own the concern for this situation.
Press Release 14th July 2011 - Smoking Amongst Health Workers
College of Nurses, Aotearoa supports debate about smoking among health professionals.
The College of Nurses welcomes the debate about hiring health professionals who smoke and applauds the leadership of Auckland District Health Board in looking to extend existing debates.
Quitting smoking protects the health of the nursing workforce. It sends an unambiguous message to patients and people who smoke that smoking is unhealthy.The Ministry of Health has stringent targets for delivering smoking cessation treatment in hospitals and primary health care.
The people left out of the mix are the health professionals who smoke. They need support to break the addiction and quit in exactly the same manner as the public.Contact person -
Professor Jenny Carryer
Executive Director
College of Nurses
Cell: 027 449 1302 or Grace Wong
College Fellow & Smokefree Nurses NZCell: 021 217 9519
Press Release - 7th February 2011
The College of Nurses, Aotearoa congratulates Mid Central District Health Board on the establishment of Horowhenua’s “Waiting-List Clinic”, which has now opened. The College of Nurses is a long standing supporter of greater use of nurses to meet primary health care needs for people. Many New Zealanders now live in areas where there is a shortage of GPs or indeed no GPs. Nurse staffed clinics provide a service that ensures the health needs of the population are met, with nurses using their full range of knowledge and skills, referring patients on to GPs if and when required. It has long been known that a high percentage of presenting problems in General Practice can be safely and competently addressed and managed by nurses.It has never been more important to break through old barriers and customs and to use the health workforce as effectively and as innovatively as possible to ensure the appropriate level of professional health care is available to everyone. Early identification and treatment of problems improves health outcomes and reduces demand for more complex care. Most importantly people must have somewhere to turn when they have a health related problem.
Professor Jenny Carryer, Executive Director of the College is available for further comment on this issue (027 449 1302)
This press release is on behalf of the College of Nurses, Aotearoa (NZ) Inc. The College is a professional body of New Zealand nurses from all regions and specialities. It provides a voice for the nursing profession and professional commentary on issues which affect nurses, and also the health of the whole community. Its aim is to support excellence in clinical practice, research and education and to work with consumers to influence health policy. The College is committed to the Treaty of Waitangi and the improvement of Maori health. This commitment is reflected in the bicultural structure of the organisation.
Press Release 20 September 2010
College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) supports the call to give new health boss a fair go
Mr. Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists call for new Director-General of Health Dr Kevin Woods to be given a fair go is supported by the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) Board says Co-chair Judy YarwoodMedia reports of Dr Kevin Woods being responsible for the demise of 1,500 nursing positions in Scotland recently are just that, reports. Such reports tend to be used selectively and are frequently taken out of context. 1,500 nursing positions were not chopped, rather hospital boards have been urged to stop using bank or agency nurses, renowned for high staffing costs. Nursing and medical staffing is one of many complexities in health care delivery and one CDHBs have yet to address. However patient care and outcomes must remain central to any monetary reform. As a world leader in workforce planning, Dr Kevin Woods expertise needs to be welcomed for what it can offer the health ministry working to come to grips with spiraling health costs. Rather than castigating the incoming Director-General of Health, Judy Yarwood says the College of Nurses looks forward to working with Dr Woods in developing a nursing and health workforce that serves the public health needs of all New Zealanders.in this section:
