The Kaiwhakahaere for the Nurses Organisation says last week’s 62 nationwide stop-work meetings delivered a clear message: hospital understaffing is real, but Te Whatu Ora remains in denial.
The meetings allowed nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants to discuss Te Whatu Ora’s intention to pause calculations for the Care Capacity Demand Management (CCDM) safe staffing programme during collective bargaining.
Organisation Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the message was clear—understaffing is a significant and urgent issue.
“Which is why when Te Whatu Ora chooses to pause what they’ve called “safe care-capacity demand- management” – which was aimed at addressing short-staffing across the system – then it’s almost like they’re choosing to disguise the issue exists,” says Nuku.
Kerri Nuku says if Te Whatu Ora continues to slash budgets, there will be a massive loss of nurses to overseas countries in need of qualified staff.
