NZNO delegate at Ward 5, Christine Warrander, said the strike was a small-scale strike, by a small number of exhausted staff for a short period of time, and that it was motivated by genuine fears for their own and patients’ wellbeing.
“We took this action as a last-ditch effort to be heard after repeated pleas for help had fallen on deaf ears.”
A provisional improvement notice (PIN) was issued in December 2022 for Ward 5 in response to health and safety concerns including acute staff shortages, untenable workloads, staff stress, increased sick leave, burn out and resignations.
A PIN is supposed to be resolved in a short period of time but when the Herald sought an update in early May, NZNO said there had been delays caused by WorkSafe inspectors being on leave, Cyclone Gabrielle which put Tairāwhiti out of action for several weeks and Te Whatu Ora being late in providing evidence to WorkSafe.
Ms Warrander said the situation at Ward 5 had become worse since the PIN was issued.
“Our asks, such as reducing beds from 25 down to 20 to make workloads more manageable, are simple but instead of acknowledging they have a serious problem and addressing it, we feel like we’re being strong-armed and silenced.
“Staff morale is at an all-time low and my colleagues and I are genuinely anxious about coming into work every day.”
NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter said the court action was an “at best heavy-handed” response in the middle of a crisis, where the wellbeing of both patients and nurses is seriously at risk.
“It does not reflect well on Te Whatu Ora as an employer.
“Our members right across the motu are experiencing the same dismissive response to their concerns and calls for help, and they’re just asked to do more and more until that becomes the norm.
“This just cannot carry on because people’s wellbeing is at risk, and our members have the right to strike in a situation like this.”
He said there had been an outpouring of support from nurses around the country for the courage and determination of the Ward 5 staff.
“Nurses across the health system feel like their situation is very similar and they’re angry and disappointed that Te Whatu Ora has tried to prevent a very legitimate and justified strike.
“These nurses just want to get this dangerous situation in their ward fixed because they care about their patients.
“This response from Te Whatu Ora will only ensure things continue to worsen.”
He said NZNO would always be happy to sit down with Te Whatu Ora to discuss this situation further.
A Te Whatu Ora spokesperson said they did not consider that the threshold for justifying a strike had been met.
“We believe that we have an obligation to ask the court to determine this in the broader interests of staff and patient safety.”
