Role of nurses needs to be recognised and enhanced

International Nurses Day is a chance to celebrate the essential role that nurses play in the delivery of quality healthcare, and to commit to making sure that role is enhanced, says Labour’s Health spokesperson Grant Robertson.

“Nurses are too often the un-sung heroes of the health system. All the professionals who work in our health system contribute mightily, but it is nurses who are the key to primary healthcare,” Grant Roberson said.

“In New Zealand we have a highly skilled nursing workforce working at the coalface every day with families under stress.

“There is plenty of scope to expand the contribution of nurses with the development of nurse practitioner roles and a greater role for public health nurses. Labour is concerned about the Government’s review of school health programmes, in which nurses play a key role. These programmes deliver effective primary healthcare intervention, and the Government should commit to its continuation.

“National’s cuts to the health sector have put more pressure on nurses. They do more administrative work, deal with staff shortages and juggle the loss of public health programmes.

“The Minister’s obsession with slogans and manufactured targets means he has taken his eye off the ball when it comes to primary healthcare.

“For Labour we believe primary healthcare should be at the centre of health policy. Nurses are at the centre of the primary healthcare and deserve our respect and congratulations for a job well done,” Grant Robertson said.