August 07, 2017
Nurse shortage unhealthy for Maori
The New Zealand Nurse's Organisation says continued disparity in what nurses can earn working in Maori and community health services compared with what they would get from district health boards is affecting recruitment and broader efforts to improve Maori health.
The organisation held its annual hui a tau in Auckland at the weekend, and kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says pay parity was a major topic of discussion.
She says many Maori nurses work extra shifts to support whanau members through their studies, but they wouldn't encourage them into nursing under current conditions.
That means fewer Maori health professionals, which contributes to whanau not accessing health services at the same rate as non-maori.
"Fundamentally some of that is because of the funding structure and barriers, so we see health professionals, particularly Maori, as a vital key to supporting entry for our whanau into healthcare services, so we can't afford for them not to become health professionals," Ms Nuku says.
A lot of work to support whanau is done by Maori community workers, social workers and those who work for women's refuge with little pay.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com