Health New Zealand is defending giving stickers to clinicians who have a flu jab after earlier telling Whangārei Hospital nurses their stickers were a health and safety risk.
Members of the NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO) took part in a uniform strike, wearing bright clothes instead of their usual scrubs.
The uniform strike was part of industrial action by the union after 18 months negotiating for a collective contract, with safe staffing levels a key point of contention.
At Whangārei Hospital, the uniform strike began in the ED in January, then expanded to other wards in March and April.
Delegate Rachel Thorn said union members were told they could not wear stickers saying “striking for safe staffing” to help explain to patients why they were not wearing uniforms.
Staff were reportedly told the stickers were an infection risk because they could not be wiped clean and could fall off, she said.
Thorn claimed some were threatened with being reported to the Nursing Council, at risk of losing their registration, which stopped some wards from taking part in the strike.
She said it was ridiculous Health NZ was now encouraging clinicians who had an influenza vaccine at the hospital to wear a sticker saying “I’ve had a flu jab”.
The stickers were worn by clinicians in the ED in-patient rooms, highlighting Health NZ’s inconsistency, Thorn said.
“The wearing of stickers is clearly not an issue for Health NZ because if people have a flu jab, they’re telling them they have to wear the stickers.”
In a statement, Health NZ defended its differing responses to the two stickers.
It said the NZNO industrial action applied for up to four months, from January 1 to April 30, in areas where there was significantly high risk to patient vulnerability.
These included the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), ED and Neonatal ICU, where there was greater risk of sepsis and patient deterioration, and low tolerance for environmental changes.
“The wearing of stickers in these areas, and for a sustained period, inherently creates more infection prevention and control, and patient-care risks.”
Health NZ said stickers given to the public and staff who received flu jabs were generally only worn on the day provided and were not intended to be worn when providing close patient care.
“Stickers that carry positive public health messaging are intended to improve the health of patients, their whānau and wider communities, to reduce the strain on the health system over winter.”
Thorn said although the industrial action lasted up to four months, staff intended to put on a new sticker each day.
While she agreed the uniform strike was on high-risk wards, she said those were the areas where safe staffing levels were most important.
Staff felt the uniform strike – which did not impact patient care – was a better way of getting their message across than a full strike withholding labour, Thorn said.
The nursing workforce was in crisis, with many nurses moving to Australia because they had no faith Health NZ would improve staffing numbers, due to a lack of funds, she said.
Te Tai Tokerau group director operations Alex Pimm previously said Health NZ continued to prioritise recruitment of nurses in Te Tai Tokerau, recently implementing more nursing positions as a result of its positive safe staffing programme.
It remained committed to reaching settlement with the NZNO, and valued the contribution of nurses and healthcare assistants, he said.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.