A just completed survey by the Society shows current funding cuts and controls are having wide ranging adverse consequences.

The survey of Nurses Society members used a multi-item questionnaire.   A significant majority of respondents (77%) reported an adverse impact on the health sector from recent funding cuts and/or budget controls, with the below effects:

·        70% reported higher stress

·        64% less access to services and/or reduced services

·        63% understaffing

·        57% treatment delays

·        53% lower quality service.

In addition, 22% of respondents wrote in examples of further effects, including:

·        increased workload / pressure / unpaid overtime

·        lower staff morale and higher dissatisfaction, fatigue, and burnout

·        redundancy or job offer retraction

·        less employment opportunity and mobility

·        fewer placements for new graduates

·        potential or actual loss of new graduates to overseas

·        more reliance on casual staff

·        higher sickness rates among staff

·        pay rate stagnation

·        reduced resources / supplies

·        increase in outsourcing

·        less training / professional development

·        lack of IT / admin support

·        over dependence on primary care for complex cases and/or higher rates of public referrals being declined

·        less support for Māori and Pasifika clients

·        increased cost of services / equipment for clients

·        loss of trust in the healthcare system.

Respondents spanned a range of sectors such as Te Whatu Ora (39%), primary care (34%), private surgical facility (9%), urgent care (6%) and aged care (5%).

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