News – Page 16 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

NZNO kaiwhakahaere wins global human rights award

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Kerri Nuku wins award while Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference inspires Māori–healthcare professionals.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Racism stirs up dawn raids memory for Pacific nurse

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Pacific nurses had enough to cope with without racist comments in the media, Pacific Nurses’ Section chair ‘Eseta Finau said.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

‘Sense of urgency’ in Pacific community

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Frontline nurses vaccinating Auckland’s Pacific communities against COVID-19 have seen thousands of people since the Delta outbreak began last month, says a nursing team leader.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

‘I do it for my whānau, hapū, my iwi’

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

The Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference 2021 wrapped with an awards evening at the Beehive, recognising the work of Māori nurses and students.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

NZNO successfully defends Employment Court LPS challenge

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

NZNO has claimed victory after being taken to the Employment Court by district health boards (DHBs) in their ongoing industrial dispute with members.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Staffing shortages laid bare by lockdown pressure

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

The COVID-19 lockdown has exposed chronic short-staffing as nurses were asked to work despite living with people potentially exposed to the virus.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

NZNO staff moves – retirements & resignations

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

After 13 years at NZNO, policy analyst Māori Leanne Manson has resigned, to take up a senior role at Pharmac as pou tohu mātāmua (principal advisor) te whaioranga (Māori responsiveness strategy).

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Aged care nurses must await DHB deal – Little

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Aged care nurses must wait for district health board (DHB) nurses to strike a pay deal before attaining their own pay parity, Minister of Health Andrew Little says.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Get vaccinated, avoid spreading misinformation – Nursing Council

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Nurses should get vaccinated – and shouldn’t spread vaccine misinformation, the Nursing Council of New Zealand says.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Data lag could hide vacancies

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Just under 1200 nurse vacancies were reported across the country’s district health boards (DHBs) at March 31 this year – about five per cent of the 25,000 DHB nursing workforce – but the real vacancy rate is likely to be “significantly higher”, says an NZNO safe staffing expert.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Masks and PPE ‘a concern’

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

NZNO is concerned about a lack of access to and poorly fitted N95 masks for frontline vaccination teams in Auckland, acting professional and nursing services manager Kate Weston says.

Read more... Masks and PPE ‘a concern’

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

No strike but nurses go purple

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Delta thwarted strike plans on August 19. Instead, members rolled up their sleeves and got to work on the pandemic frontline.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Nurse students hit hard by COVID-19

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

An NZNO study has found students were hard hit by COVID-19 last year, particularly in their clinical placements.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Students can strike – but not in uniform

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Nursing schools have reassured students they are entitled to take part in NZNO strikes, as negotiations continue between district health boards (DHBs) and NZNO – as long as they’re not wearing nursing school uniforms.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

NZNO analyst on end-of-life group

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

NZNO policy analyst Māori Leanne Manson (Ngāti Tama Ki Te Tauihu, Te Ātiawa) has been appointed to the End of Life Choice Act oversight group SCENZ – support and consultation for end of life in New Zealand.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

NPs excluded from end-of-life prescribing

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Nurse practitioners (NPs) have been excluded from prescribing or administering life-ending medication under the End of Life Choice Act (EOLCA), says Nurse Practitioners New Zealand (NPNZ) chair Sandra Oster.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Vote for president and vice-president

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Voting is open now for a new NZNO president and vice-president.

Four nominations have been received for the position of president and three for the position of vice-president. The profiles of these election candidates can be read below. (NB: These profiles are not edited by Kai Tiaki staff.)
Kerri Nuku was the sole nomination for the position of kaiwhakahaere and Titihuia Pakeho the only nomination for tumu whakarae so both are elected unopposed.
Members will have received voter packs by email or post earlier this month.
Voting closes at 12 noon on Friday, September 10.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Millions of nurses left without full vaccination

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Millions of health-care workers are still not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, sparking concern from the chief executive of the International Nursing Council.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

General practices, pharmacies join COVID-19 vaccination rollout in droves

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Health providers clamour to join rollout, but Māori vaccination rates still lag.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Push to boost election engagement after years of low member turn-out

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Changes to help members learn more about candidates.

Uncut – news briefs

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.
31 Oct	General practices welcome fast-track approvals process A new fast-track approval process is a good start, but more is needed to fix New Zealand’s chronic GP shortage, says the General Practice Owners Association (GenPro)
24 Oct	International Council of Nurses Bucharest Declaration priorities for the future of nursing The International Council of Nurses (ICN) marked the 125 years since its founding in 1899 with an anniversary conference held in Bucharest, Romania and hosted by the Order of Nurses, Midwives, and Medical Assistants of Romania.
10 Oct	Call to immunise now as New Zealand at high risk of whooping cough outbreak Pregnant people, babies, children and others at high risk from whooping cough are urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible, as Aotearoa New Zealand stands at high risk of an outbreak.
9 Oct	New pilot with Plunket to deliver childhood immunisations To increase access and boost immunisation rates, Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora and Whānau Āwhina Plunket will pilot the delivery of childhood immunisations at a select number of sites across the country.
8 Oct	Health NZ Begins Development of National Perinatal Bereavement Care Pathway As Baby Loss Awareness Week shines a light on the heartbreak faced by many, Health NZ is taking a compassionate and hopeful step forward in transforming the support available for whānau who experience the loss of a baby.
7 Oct	Govt takes the scalpel to regional health budgets At Labour’s insistence, Te Whatu Ora financial documents have been released by the Health Select Committee today showing more cuts are on the way for our health system.
2 Oct	Orion Health and Streamliners form strategic partnership Orion Health, a global leader in digital health solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Streamliners, creators of HealthPathways which provides an online manual used to assist with clinical assessments.
1 Oct	Rollout of new medicines across New Zealand begins Today marks the first day a range of new medicines, including cancer medicines, will start to become available in hospitals and health centres across the country.
27 Sept	New Dunedin hospital: Southerners deserve better The Government’s announcement today that it will scale back the new Dunedin hospital will negatively impact patient care, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki O Aotearoa says.
26 Sept	Govt not addressing health workforce crisis The National Government is hiding the gaps in the health workforce from New Zealanders, by not producing a full workforce plan nearly a year into their tenure.
25 Sept	New programme offers step up for jobseekers seeking a career in health and wellbeing Local jobseekers have an exciting new opportunity to begin a career in Health following the launch of a new community-based kaiāwhina programme in the Hutt Valley.
23 Sept	Ministers oblivious to cuts’ effect on families The National Government is oblivious to the impact cuts to services will have on New Zealanders who are doing the hard yards caring for mentally ill family members.
19 Sept	Wānaka community to benefit from new overnight health service Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says an Overnight Acute Care Service opening in October will provide people in Wānaka and the surrounding area with the assurance of quality overnight care closer to home.
17 Sept	Dr Le Heron takes title of 2024 Alzheimers NZ Fellow Distinguished neurologist and cognitive neuroscientist, Dr Campbell Le Heron, has been made the 2024 Alzheimers NZ Fellow for his work researching and managing cognitive disorders.
11 Sept	Aged care will be worse off if redesign rushed New Zealanders needing aged care support and the people who care for them will be worse off if the Government pushes through a flawed and rushed redesign of dementia and aged care.
11 Sept	Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today.
10 Sept	ICN launches new position statement and discussion paper setting out a revolution in the delivery of Primary Health Care The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is launching its new position statement and a discussion paper on Primary Health Care (PHC) at its Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nursing Network (NP/APN Network) Conference in Aberdeen, Scotland.
9 Sept	First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost Pharmac has decided to widen access to two medicines for several types of cancer. Pembrolizumab (branded as Keytruda) will be funded from 1 October 2024 for eligible people with advanced triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Nivolumab (branded as Opdivo) will be funded from 1 November for eligible people with kidney cancer.
6 Sept	Health agencies working with Police on rebalancing roles for mental health responses Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora are working with Police to change some of the ways agencies respond to mental health. The change will see an increased health-led response, supporting Police to focus on core Policing.
4 Sept	Nurses’ bargaining starts with action for safe staffing Nurses are kicking off their collective bargaining with Te Whatu Ora by taking action for safe staffing on Friday, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.