Letters – Page 2 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

March 2024

‘Innovative’ nurse-pharmacist partnership can help with declining childhood immunisation rates

By Nicola Metcalfe

February 2, 2024

I write as a registered nurse (RN) and immunisation coordinator, deeply concerned about the declining childhood immunisation rates in Aotearoa.

February 2024

‘Kerri Nuku needs to stick with nursing and leave history to the experts’

By Helen Mccrostie

January 15, 2024

Kerri Nuku needs to stick with nursing and leave history to the experts.

January 2024

‘I see the effects every day’ — nurse and midwife implores Government to rethink Smokefree law change

By Anne-Mieke van der Zanden

December 12, 2023

I’m writing in the hope that the Government will change its mind on the Smokefree law change.

January 2024

Stop the repeal of Smokefree legislation, say respiratory nurses

By NZNO College of Respiratory Nurses

December 7, 2023

The NZNO college of respiratory nurses demands the Government stop the repeal of the Smokefree legislation.

December 2023

PhD student sought for research project on elimination of tuberculosis among Māori

By Amy Jones and Sue McAllister

November 23, 2023

December 2023

2024 skills and training scholarships offered to union members and families

By Sheryl Cadman

November 3, 2023

The Northern Drivers’ Charitable Trust (NDCT) is a registered charitable trust that was established in 1987.

September 2023

Ground down and left in the lurch

By Vincent Theunissen

September 7, 2023

I write to express my profound disappointment and dismay after reading the recent article “Disappointed primary health nurses pin hopes on pay equity”.

September 2023

Anaesthetic technicians no threat to perioperative nurses, says their society

By Matthew Lawrence

August 31, 2023

September 2023

Participants sought for nurse-led research into eating disorders

By Louise Fletcher

August 22, 2023

I am a registered nurse looking for people affected by eating disorders, and their family members, for my PhD research.

September 2023

Trauma-informed care micro-credential in Aotearoa

By Tracey Howarth

August 21, 2023

At Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) Te Pūkenga, we offer the only trauma-Informed care micro-credential in Aotearoa and would love more people to know about our next intake.

September 2023

Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and NZ nursing scholarship 2023

By the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand

August 17, 2023

The Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ) offers a nursing scholarship every year. Applications for the 2023 scholarship close on Monday, September 4.

September 2023

Wound care conference important for keeping skills up to date

By Sasha Drennan

August 8, 2023

Wound management and the dressing of wounds are some of the most basic services offered in primary health care facilities across New Zealand.

August 2023

Abstracts wanted for stomal therapy nurses’ 2024 conference

By NZNO College of Stomal Therapy Nurses

July 28, 2023

Conference Link: CSTN Conference 2024
Conference theme “Innovation”
Ellerslie Events Centre, Feb 29 – March 1, 2024

August 2023

Candidates for Nursing Council election

By Warwick Lampp

July 11, 2023

Nominations for three nurse members to be elected to the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) board closed at 5pm, Friday, June 30, 2023.

August 2023

New Zealand Faith Community Nurse Association closes

By Charles Tyrrell

July 4, 2023

The New Zealand Faith Community Nurse Association (NZFCNA) has served many communities throughout New Zealand since a pilot at Nelson Cathedral over two decades ago begun by Elaine Tyrrell. This form of nursing practice combines practical nursing with the Christian ministry of health care.

July 2023

The New Zealand Nurses Memorial Fund ready to support nurses in times of hardship

By Helen Williams

June 30, 2023

In these challenging times of COVID, climate change and global recession, many people continue to experience financial hardship and we write to highlight the financial help available from the New Zealand Nurses Memorial Fund (NZNMF).

June 2023

2023 nominations for the election of Nursing Council members are now open

By Warwick Lampp

May 24, 2023

Nominations are now being called for three nurse members to be elected by the nursing profession to the Nursing Council board. Elected members will serve for a period of three years.

June 2023

Comprehensive guide to mesothelioma

By Jacob Bryant

May 17, 2023

A United States law firm which acts for people exposed to asbestos has produced a thorough guide to mesothelioma.

June 2023

So much more than ‘just a nurse’

By Anna Hickey

May 8, 2023

An Auckland clinical nurse educator explains, in poetry, why you should not say ‘I’m just a nurse’.

April 2023

Course teaches conservative sharp debridement

By Rebecca Aburn

March 29, 2023

Learn the skills needed to safely and competently perform conservative sharp debridement.

Uncut – news briefs

27 March	Bar still too high for small mental health providers Small mental health providers will still be locked out of co-funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund despite a lower threshold.
25 March	ICN advocates for health system gender equity and women’s health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) brought the nursing voice to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) which wrapped up on Friday. ICN participated in critical discussions on gender equity and women’s health throughout the event.
19 March	ICN warns of healthcare crisis as USAID funding cuts devastate nursing initiatives in the world’s most vulnerable regions The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has documented alarming firsthand evidence of widespread disruption and collapse of essential health care services following the sudden withdrawal of USAID and other funding.
19 March	New High Dependency Unit will expand critical care services in Wellington Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Wellington Regional Hospital’s first High Dependency Unit (HDU).
13 March	Pharmac to fund more cancer medicines Pharmac is funding six more medicines for cancers and one for antibiotic resistant infections.
28 Feb	Pharmac CE resigns The Board of Pharmac wishes to announce that its Chief Executive for the last 7 years, Sarah Fitt, has resigned effective from 30 May 2025.
25 Feb	ICN issues updated statement on health care in conflict, calling for peace and compliance with international humanitarian law In recent years, the world has witnessed a disturbing increase in conflicts and wars, placing immense strain on health systems and exacerbating human suffering. Nurses have been at the forefront of these crises, responding to emergencies, supporting recovery efforts, and providing essential care to those affected by violence and displacement.
21 Feb	ICN’s new guidance on integrating nurse leaders into heart of health workforce planning The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has published a practical guide to including nurses in workforce planning decisions.
17 Feb	ICN warns of effect of US withdrawal from WHO on nurse-led services The International Council of Nurses (ICN) warned that the withdrawal of the United States from WHO has already halted some nurse-led services, including vaccination programmes and care for people with HIV/AIDS.
17 Feb	Minister acknowledges outgoing Director-General Health Minister Simeon Brown has today acknowledged the resignation of Director-General of Health and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati, and thanked her for her service.
12 Feb	Pharmac funds medicines for liver, ovarian, and neuroendocrine cancers People with liver, ovarian, and neuroendocrine cancers will have access to more medicines from 1 March 2025.
11 Feb	Consultation begins on work to improve patient access to medical devices Pharmac is continuing to improve the way medical devices are managed for New Zealanders, today opening consultation on its comprehensive list of medical devices used by public hospitals.
3 Feb	First Whānau Āwhina Plunket site in NZ delivering childhood vaccinations Childhood immunisations are now being delivered at a Whānau Āwhina Plunket site in Whāngarei, with other regions soon to also provide the new service.
29 Jan	Local access to specialist audiology services comes to Wairarapa A newly established out-patient clinic for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and audiology appointments is providing Wairarapa patients with local access to specialist hearing services for the first time.
29 Jan	Pharmac reconsiders oestradiol patch options following community feedback Pharmac is reviewing and reconsidering its oestradiol patch options after considerable feedback was received when it announced a move to a single funded brand late last year.
22 Jan	Consultations for cancer and ADHD medicines close soon Pharmac is encouraging people to have their say on proposals to fund six more medicines and change the brand of one medicine before consultation closes on 27 January.
20 Dec	Health NZ introduces public reporting of key primary healthcare measures and PHO performance Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) has introduced public reporting of key primary healthcare measures and Primary Health Organisation (PHO) performance.
19 Dec	Quarter 1 performance report released Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has today published its Quarterly Performance Report for Quarter 1, covering the period 1 July to 30 September 2024.
18 Dec	Recent uptick in Boostrix immunisations amid whooping cough epidemic, but work still to do As the healthcare sector continues to respond to a whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic across the motu, it’s promising to see a recent uptick in the number of Boostrix immunisations among the 15- to 44-year-old age group, with a recent doubling of doses administered from about 1,000 per week to over 2,000 per week.
18 Dec	Extra security to again keep EDs safe this summer Health Minister Dr Shane Reti is again reminding New Zealanders that violence against patients, visitors and health workers won’t be tolerated, with additional security for hospital emergency departments across the country this summer.
13 Dec	Mental health and addiction targets implementation plans released Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has today published its first quarterly results for four of the five mental health and addiction targets, covering the period 1 July – 30 September 2024.
12 Dec	Health targets encouraging – work continues New data shows that the Government’s focus on health targets is putting the brakes on the steep decline in delivery seen over the past five years.
12 Dec	Gisborne receives mental health beds boost Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey today opened Gisborne Hospital’s new acute mental health unit, Te Whare Awhi Ora, and says the region will be better served by a bigger, more therapeutic acute mental health unit.
9 Dec	Afghan women ‘banned from nursing and midwife training’ in latest blow to rights BBC News has reported that female nursing and midwifery students in Afghanistan have been told not to return to their studies, effectively ending women’s only access to further education, and putting women and children’s lives at risk.
9 Dec	How student and early career nurses can influence policymaking The International Council of Nurses (ICN) held a webinar which highlighted the vital importance of primary and preventative health care in meeting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) challenging goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030
3 Dec	Health NZ end-of-year deficit confirmed In publishing its annual report, Health NZ has confirmed it ended the financial year with a deficit of $722 million, against a target surplus of $54 million.
2 Dec	ICN says COP29 climate finance shortfall threatens the planet’s health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has expressed profound disappointment with the outcomes of COP29, held in Baku, particularly the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance that was passed despite significant objections from developing countries.
29 Nov	Minister reminds public health officials of priorities Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti says the National Public Health Service should concentrate its focus on prioritising serious public health issues facing New Zealanders.
29 Nov	Community providers rally to protect hapū māma and pēpi as national whooping cough case numbers surpass 1,000 for 2024 Hapū māmā are being urged to get immunised, and parents and caregivers are encouraged to get their babies immunised on time, as whooping cough case numbers continue to climb across Aotearoa New Zealand.
28 Nov	Govt ignores health crisis, plans to axe 1500 public health roles The health of New Zealanders will suffer because of the Government’s plan to axe nearly 1500 roles at Te Whatu Ora, coming at a time when the public health system is already under severe pressure.
27 Nov	Health New Zealand Establishes Technical Advisory Group to Lead Transformation in Maternity Care This team of experts and community representatives will play a key role in the development of the Maternity Commissioning Framework, a core element of the wider Kahu Taurima programme, which aims to make maternity and early years services more equitable, accessible, and whānau-centered.
22 Nov	Whooping Cough epidemic declared across Aotearoa New Zealand Health agencies have confirmed today that Aotearoa New Zealand is now in the early stages of a Whooping Cough epidemic, with a nationally coordinated response now in place.
20 Nov	A Global Map of Winter Depression Healthnews has released an extensive study that ranks 194 countries based on their winter-pattern Seasonal Depression Disorder (SAD) risk.
18 Nov	Potential travel disruption expected with Tuesday’s national Hīkoi Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora urges those with an appointment scheduled at Wellington Regional Hospital on Tuesday morning or early afternoon, to please allow extra time to get to appointments.
15 Nov	ICN’s calls on G20 leaders to address international health worker migration crisis Ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro next week, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) welcomes the Declarations recently adopted by the G20 Health Working Group and health ministers.
13 Nov	Measles case confirmed in Tāmaki Makaurau Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has confirmed today that a new case of measles has been identified on Waiheke Island in Auckland. The case and their household are being supported by the National Public Health Service (NPHS), with those most at risk now in quarantine to help reduce the chance of further spread.
5 Nov	Safety fears ahead of changes to mental health 111 calls Mental Health Nurses have serious concerns about the safety of their patients, the public, their colleagues and themselves when police changes to emergency 111 calls come into effect on Monday, New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa says.