This week's rally, organised by members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), took place and called for an increase in the health funding budget.
Nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants, and kaimahi hauora have called upon the government to increase funding for health sectors in the 2024 budget. An increase in funding will help resolve part of the staffing crisis.
These rallies were orchestrated after the NZO received information from the Official Information Act that revealed the extent of the staffing problem in New Zealand.
During 2023, more than a quarter of nursing shifts were below safe staffing targets, with some wards operating below safe staffing targets nearly all the time.
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said that nursing staffing is still in extreme crisis, with nurses regularly leaving for Australia or quitting the profession because their and their patients' well-being have been at risk.
"Budget 2024 will be released at the end of the month and must include increased funding for health if we are to solve the staffing problem and develop a local nursing workforce that can provide high-quality care that meets the physical and cultural needs of all New Zealanders," said Nuku.
The nurses protested at the Day of Action to highlight unsafe staffing levels. They also spoke with the public about culturally appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios to address the nursing staffing crisis.
Nurse-to-patient ratios have been implemented in Australia, California, British Columbia, Ireland and Wales, with exceptional outcomes for nurses, patients and health budgets.
"Skills mix and cultural appropriateness are also important to the staff we have on hand to provide care. New Zealand could be a world leader in developing a ratios system that also meets our obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi," said Nuku.
At the rally, nurses discussed their expectations for the Budget. Student nurses also spoke about the need for better financial and cultural support, including being paid during their full-time clinical placements.
More than a third of nursing students don't complete their studies, and Nuku said this often results from financial hardship and a lack of cultural support for Māori and Pacific students.
The NZNO’s hope is that the Coalition Government will listen to nurses and acknowledge the continuing health system crisis with a budget that realistically addresses our alarming rates of nurse understaffing.
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