36,000 Health NZ nurses to strike for eight hours

Monday, 2 December 2024

Patient safety and a “very, very demoralising” pay offer are why nurse Nathan Clark will be picketing outside Hutt Hospital on Tuesday on his day off.

“It’s to send a very clear message to Health NZ that we need to have patient safety at the forefront of patient care.

“We have got good people, great people, doing the best they can in a very broken system that's under a lot of pressure and strain,” Clark said.

Clark is among 36,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants on strike from 11am until 7pm on Tuesday, following failed bargaining talks between their union, NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO), and Health NZ - Te Whatu Ora.

Hospitals will remain open but some clinics will be closed and appointments are being deferred, but Health NZ has been unable to say how many patients are affected.

Why nurses are striking

The union said its primary concern is around patient safety because Te Whatu Ora planned to pause a key component of its safe staffing programme, known as care capacity demand management (CCDM).

CCDM calculates the number and the range of skill mix needed, based on how sick patients are and how much nursing care they require.

NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter said the pause would leave few safeguards on staffing levels and would result in fewer health care workers on duty.

'Ultimately, patients will pay the price for hospitals that are continuously understaffed and under-resourced.'

Members were also disappointed Te Whatu Ora indicated their bargaining parameters were restricted to 1% of total employee costs, Goulter said.

This would be just 0.5% in the first year because it won’t come into effect until April next year, and up to 1% in the second year.

This would amount to a pay cut after inflation is accounted for, Goulter said. “Nurses should not have to prop up the health system by taking cuts in pay.”

Christchurch nurse Debbie Handisides said 1% “won’t even meet the household cost of living”.

“[W]hy would anyone pick nursing as a career if they can’t pay their household bills?”

Handisides was striking with an eye on the future workforce.

“For me this strike is for our future nurses and health care; to not lose the gains we’ve made for nurses and patients in Aotearoa.”

Waikato nurse Tracy Chisholm was striking because “nurses play an integral part to the NZ health system”.

“The lack of respect for the health of New Zealanders and the nursing community by this government needs to be called out.

“How do we provide culturally safe care without the nurses to do it; how do we educate, prevent deterioration and further harm without the nurses to provide; how do we meet the governments health kaupapa without the nurses?

Strike day actions at centres throughout the country can be found here.

What to do if you have an appointment

Hospitals and emergency departments will remain open during the strike and life preserving services will be in place to make sure people can still access care, Te Whatu Ora’s northern region deputy chief executive Mark Shepherd said.

“To maintain patient safety, some clinics will be closed. However, if you have a hospital appointment tomorrow, please come to your appointment unless we have contacted you directly to reschedule.

“Any appointments that are deferred due to the strike action will be rescheduled for the next available opportunity.”