Welcome to the College of Nurses Aotearoa News Update.
No. 435, Wednesday 6 March 2019
NATIONAL NEWS
Where are all the extra nurses?
Despite a hefty pay increase reached after industrial action last year, district health boards across the country have reported large numbers of unfilled nursing roles.
DHBs agree to top-up funding for aged care nurses
DHBs have agreed to a small funding increase for aged care providers to mitigate the effects that last year’s DHB nurses’ MECA agreement had on aged care nursing.
Nurses fear mental health funding boost for Canterbury won't make staff safer
Nurses are concerned a major funding boost for mental health services in Canterbury won't help keep frontline staff safe.
Hillmorton Hospital gets millions in funding for Christchurch mental health upgrade
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced $79 million in funding for new Christchurch mental health facilities to house services stranded at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Māori students march to grad despite procession being cancelled
A small group of Māori Bachelor of Nursing students marched to their Whitireia graduation ceremony today despite the planned procession being cancelled earlier this week. They were flanked by their families and tutors to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter.
AGED CARE
Urgent calls for better elderly protection
The forced eviction notice given to some elderly residents at the Merivale Retirement Village in Christchurch is sparking calls for a law change.
Ageing population faces carer shortage
More than 30,000 people are employed in aged care nationally, a workforce which will need to increase by at least half to cope with the ageing population. The Otago Daily Times series on ageing continues as health reporter Mike Houlahan looks at how New Zealand will find the workers to look after its older people.
CANCER
Kiwi women fighting for early ovarian cancer diagnosis and access to drugs
It took seven months of repeatedly going to her GP with bowel issues, bloating and pain before Lois Walton was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer.
DENTAL
Time for free dental care? Queues at hospital pain clinics as Waitematā DHB backs 'comprehensive' dental service
Desperate Kiwis are queuing at hospital pain clinics because they can't afford the dentist - and health bosses are now backing free dental care.
DHBs
Auckland DHB facing a $10 million unplanned deficit this year
Auckland District Health Board is facing an unplanned deficit of more than $10 million this financial year.
HEALTH FUNDING AND RESEARCH
Health boards, schools may lose funding as Ministries forced to use 2013 census data
Hospital boards and schools may receive less funding as Government departments give up on using 2018 census data for planning and budgeting.
MENTAL HEALTH
No link between vaccinations and autism, major study finds
Scientists have again debunked the myth of a possible link between vaccinations and autism in children.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Auckland measles outbreak 'a serious concern'; hundreds in danger
Measles is a "serious concern" in Auckland and at least 150 people are at risk of already having caught the deadly disease.
International measles outbreaks prompt call for vaccination
The Ministry of Health is reminding travellers to make sure they are immunised against measles following outbreaks overseas.
Suspected swine flu outbreak in Hawke's Bay
Health enquiries are ongoing in Hawke's Bay after a suspected outbreak of swine flu affecting 90 people, with two confirmed cases of the N1-N1 virus.
RESPIRATORY
New respiratory disease 2018 impact report figures
Māori mortality rates remain highest of all ethnic groups - new impact report launched
• New Te Reo Māori children’s show launches in Rotorua
• New Te Reo Māori action plan resources
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Graduating more RNs is first step in nurse staffing issues
Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill to create nursing staff ratios but Cindy Reese, director of nursing for the University of Chicago, said hospitals face a shortage of nurses due to a lack of applicants. The University of Chicago Nursing Programs created a nursing program in Springfield, Ill., to help graduate more registered nurses
WORKPLACE
Domestic abuse: Another threat nurses deal with personally
Nurse leaders work to protect their staff from workplace violence, but there is another threat they may not be aware of -- domestic abuse. Nursing executive Ronell Myburgh shares five ways nurses and other health care leaders can support nurses experiencing domestic violence: Understand the scope of the problem, reconsider training and policy, know the signs, build personal connections, and develop systems of support.
HealthLeaders Media
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
An integrative literature review of pre-registration nursing students’ attitudes and perceptions towards primary healthcare
Byfield, Zachary et al.
Collegian , Volume 0 , Issue 0 ,
There is a renewed focus on the role of primary healthcare within the health system due to an ageing population, increasing cost of acute healthcare services, and an emphasis on developing healthier communities. Associated with this focus is the need for an increase in primary healthcare workforce capacity. Despite this, primary healthcare is rarely prioritised within the pre-registration nursing curricula. By understanding the perspectives and experiences of student nurses regarding clinical placement in primary healthcare, educators and industry will be better informed to support the student nurse within this setting.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Referral Criteria for Direct Access Outpatient Colonoscopy or Computed Tomography Colonography
These criteria are designed to cover the majority of indications for referral for colonoscopy by general practitioners and non-gastrointestinal specialists.
The 2019 updates include the addition of a chapter around how to manage people who do not meet the referral criteria.
The National Travel Assistance Scheme: Policy Recommendations Report
The National Travel Assistance Scheme (NTA Scheme) provides financial assistance for travel and accommodation to people who need to travel a long distance or very frequently to attend specialist hospital treatment.
Improving the NTA Scheme provides a real opportunity for the health and disability sector to think about how reducing travel and accommodation costs, as barriers to access, could contribute to a better experience of the system for patients and more equitable health outcomes across the New Zealand population.
Travel assistance can directly benefit a patient’s health outcomes by helping them to attend appointments. It is also of value to the health and disability system if it enables a positive treatment outcome and, by treating the patient earlier, prevents the costs associated with complications and hospital inpatient stays.
This report outlines the findings of the review of the NTA Scheme and makes recommendations for how to improve it.
The above information has been collated for the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) Inc by Linda Stopforth, SNIPS and is provided on a weekly basis. It is current as at Tuesday 5 March 2019
If you have any feedback about content - what parts are most useful or what you would like added - please email admin@nurse.org.nz
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