Medical centre nurses vote to accept agreement

More than 2000 nurses and medical staff in 560 general practices and medical centres have voted for a new multi-employer collective agreement.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation advocate Chris Wilson said the deal "represents a huge step forward for the primary health care workforce towards pay parity with their counterparts in public hospitals."

She said the agreement would see the pay rate for a practice nurse with five years experience increase 19 percent from July this year.

The ratification of the agreement was announced this weekend.

Rosemary Minto, chairwoman of the NZNO College of Practice Nurses, said the settlement went a long way to addressing years of undervaluing the work in primary health care.

"The work in the primary health sector is harder than ever and at least as complex as that done by our counterparts in public hospitals."

- NZPA