Nurses Society director David Wills says that the move today by the Government to provide $200 million annually in funding, to achieve pay parity with Te Whatu Ora rates for staff in aged-care facilities, hospices, Māori and Pasifika healthcare organisations, is great news for nurses and support staff, as well as for patients and their whānau.
“Likewise, extending this in the new year to mental health and addiction facilities, organisations caring for the disabled and other types of residential care, then other government-funded health services is equally welcome.”
The Nurses Society already has some collective employment agreements in these sectors, including a hospice collective employment agreement (CEA) and an urgent care CEA that have already achieved parity with Te Whatu Ora (former DHBs) rates.
The rates in these CEAs already match or exceed Te Whatu Ora rates, but not all organisations are able to do this without a boost in government funding.
“The omission of primary care from the package will understandably frustrate many primary care nurses and employers.”
Arguably, historically, primary care nurses have had parity with DHB rates, at least in terms of base RN rates.
However, there have always been differences in 'take home pay’ because most nurses in Te Whatu Ora work rotating shifts and, as such, receive penal rates. Also, the Te Whatu Ora career and salary structure includes a wide number of “senior nurse grades,” generally not found in primary care.
Regardless, most primary nurses certainly do not believe that they currently have pay parity.
The Society plans to make further representations to the Minister of Health on primary care funding and pay parity.
Nurses Society director David Wills says that the move today by the Government to provide $200 million annually in funding, to achieve pay parity with Te Whatu Ora rates for staff in aged-care facilities, hospices, Māori and Pasifika healthcare organisations, is great news for nurses and support staff, as well as for patients and their whānau.
“Likewise, extending this in the new year to mental health and addiction facilities, organisations caring for the disabled and other types of residential care, then other government-funded health services is equally welcome.”
The Nurses Society already has some collective employment agreements in these sectors, including a hospice collective employment agreement (CEA) and an urgent care CEA that have already achieved parity with Te Whatu Ora (former DHBs) rates.
The rates in these CEAs already match or exceed Te Whatu Ora rates, but not all organisations are able to do this without a boost in government funding.
“The omission of primary care from the package will understandably frustrate many primary care nurses and employers.”
Arguably, historically, primary care nurses have had parity with DHB rates, at least in terms of base RN rates.
However, there have always been differences in 'take home pay’ because most nurses in Te Whatu Ora work rotating shifts and, as such, receive penal rates. Also, the Te Whatu Ora career and salary structure includes a wide number of “senior nurse grades,” generally not found in primary care.
Regardless, most primary nurses certainly do not believe that they currently have pay parity.
The Society plans to make further representations to the Minister of Health on primary care funding and pay parity.