This alarm which was raised in a press release from the NZNO was in response to HNZ’s indication last month that they will pause calculations for the Care Capacity Demand Management (CCDM) programme during collective bargaining.
This has created issues as CCDM calculated the number of nurses needed based on how sick patients were and how much nursing care they needed.
There will be 62 meetings held throughout New Zealand this week to discuss the pause for the CCDM programme.
In the press release, NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter said the meetings would allow nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants to determine their next steps in the ongoing bargaining process.
"Our members are fiercely committed to caring for their patients. They don’t want to see patients’ safety at risk because there are not enough nurses on duty to give them the care they need.
"Putting a pause on CCDM calculations is putting a pause on patient safety."
Nurses were "insulted" by HNZ’s indication they would offer only a 0.5% wage increase in the first year and up to a 1% wage increase in the second year, Mr Goulter said.
"Nurses need a pay rise that reflects at least the cost of living. Our members deserve fair pay and conditions that recognise the value of nurses and healthcare workers."
With nurses "flocking" to Australia, pay and conditions to keep them here were needed, he said.
Health workers had dealt with many issues regarding pay and work conditions this year.
Earlier this year the Otago Daily Times reported a nursing freeze was in place at the Dunedin Hospital.
At the time NZNO president Anne Daniels said Dunedin Hospital was unable to fill nursing vacancies..
In June, it was also reported that a freeze was placed on the hiring of graduate nurses. However, HNZ denied the freeze saying they were continuing to employ graduate nurses where vacancies were available.
- APL
