Latest news with #AnneDaniels
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Further cuts slammed
Cutting rehabilitation beds in the new Dunedin hospital inpatient building by more than half could have drastic consequences for the ageing population, the leader of the nurses' union says. After months of speculation, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) yesterday released the breakdown in bed numbers upon opening of the project compared with the original detailed business case. It included previously flagged cuts to ICU and mental health for older people, and also revealed the number of rehabilitation beds have been cut from 40 to 16. The cuts have been slammed by New Zealand Nurses' Organisation president Anne Daniels, who said it had been part of a broader pattern of "drip-feeding" bad news throughout. "I know for a fact that those rehab beds are absolutely crucial because as we grow older, we're more likely to have events or have strokes. "If those beds are not there, the people that are required to provide that rehab will not be hired and the service will not be able to be delivered to meet the needs of the people." In January, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the new Dunedin hospital would have fewer beds compared with the existing hospital and the previously approved business case. But he did not provide a detailed breakdown of where the cuts were going to occur. However, there were two more surgical beds (237) than proposed in the detailed business case, with further capacity for an additional 26 beds. In total, there will be 371 beds upon opening compared with 420 beds in the business case — although many departments have capacity to expand over time, with the total capacity of 424 beds. Most of the cuts have been justified by HNZ discovering a new way of modelling healthcare late last year, which has now been explained in the document. "Health New Zealand now uses a consistent nationwide approach to demand and capacity modelling for hospital and specialty services, moving from 20 different approaches to planning under the former District Health Boards to one approach," the document says. "Previously this resulted in significant national variation across health facility planning and design including ICU and other bed numbers. "Applying the new modelling to [the new hospital] has resulted in about the same number of beds but a change in the mix of bed types required, for example decreased ICU beds and increased medical surgical beds." Ms Daniels said her organisation could not believe the model could change so quickly. "Over many years, hundreds of clinical staff have been involved in the development of the design [of the new Dunedin hospital]. "Over a very short period of six months, suddenly that model has changed "There has been no evidence provided to the public, and dare I say, the council, that I know of, that actually justifies those changes." Clinical Transformation Group chairwoman Dr Sheila Barnett said the design of the hospital had been informed by updated and standardised bed modelling for regional hospitals. The group had not been informed of the new modelling until HNZ presented them with it late last year. This was during a period when the government was deliberating over whether to press ahead with a scaled-back version of the hospital at the former Cadbury's site, or retrofit the existing hospital. "We are comfortable with the build going forward because all floor area of the hospital will be built," Dr Barnett said. "We know that, acknowledging the inherent uncertainties with any modelling, the NDH can accommodate both the old modelling and the new. "At this stage, the areas indicated for fit-out on opening align with the new modelling and align with the budget. As time goes on, including before opening, and the need becomes clearer, more areas can be fitted out. "This will need additional resource." The group had many discussions about the final design. "I think if we didn't have that future fit-out space, then we would be less comfortable." Former head of the emergency department Dr John Chambers said he was cynical about the approach taken. "I have never heard of a 'new national point of care modelling' process or formula. "So there ... [seems to be] a bit of randomness and perhaps a heavy reliance on more use of day beds than even the new modelling proposes." Clinical laboratory scientist Terry Taylor said there was still no mention of a pathology building in the plans. "Like I have constantly said, this will be the first new hospital in the Western world without an on-site [on-precinct] pathology laboratory intertwined into the hospital infrastructure. "I guess maybe the minister for health is hoping that AI and digital advances by 2029 will alleviate the need for blood and tissue analysis for patient 24 hours/seven days a week care."
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Magical Thinking On Hospital Projects: NZNO
Press Release – New Zealand Nurses Organisation NZNO Primary Health Care Nurses College chair Tracey Morgan says the Coalition Government has 'utterly failed' to address the crisis in primary and community care which is leaving New Zealanders unable to see their GPs when they need to. Low-paid women health workers have paid for the Coalition Government's Budget centrepiece – tax incentives for business, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says. Budget 2025 is largely funded through $12.8 billion saved by gutting the pay equity scheme and scuppering 33 claims, including 13 from NZNO members across the health system including in the care and support, Plunket, primary care and hospice sectors. NZNO Primary Health Care Nurses College chair Tracey Morgan says the Coalition Government has 'utterly failed' to address the crisis in primary and community care which is leaving New Zealanders unable to see their GPs when they need to. 'There is nothing in this Budget to fix the chronic staff shortages that last year resulted in 36% of general practices being unable to take new enrolments. The Government chose not to close the 10% wage gap forcing primary and community care nurses to leave their communities for better paid hospital jobs. 'That would have been a $52.3 million investment with research showing the benefits would have been 14-fold. Instead, the Coalition Government has enabled further privatisation of the health system by giving $164 million to mainly Australian-owned urgent care franchises most New Zealanders can't afford to go to. 'There is also nothing in this Budget for iwi and Māori health providers who receive the lowest levels of funding in the health system,' Tracey Morgan says. NZNO president Anne Daniels says the Coalition Government's estimates it can build new facilities or remediate old ones at four hospitals, increase inpatient beds across New Zealand and fund small-scale infrastructure projects for $1 billion is simply 'magical thinking'. 'The Finance Minister has found her unicorn after all. This is kicking the can down the road for a future government to acknowledge it can't be done. 'There is no new operational spending for hospitals. The $1.37 billion for cost pressure funding announced in last year's Budget is not enough to keep the lights on. Our health system is desperately understaffed, and there is no money here to escape the ongoing and entrenched hiring freeze in the sector. 'The health system is not over budget as the Government claims. It is under-funded and under-resourced. Patients need health investments based on their care needs, not an arbitrary bottom line. 'Nicola Willis was right. This is a no BS Budget – a no basic services Budget,' Anne Daniels says.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Magical Thinking On Hospital Projects: NZNO
Low-paid women health workers have paid for the Coalition Government's Budget centrepiece - tax incentives for business, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says. Budget 2025 is largely funded through $12.8 billion saved by gutting the pay equity scheme and scuppering 33 claims, including 13 from NZNO members across the health system including in the care and support, Plunket, primary care and hospice sectors. NZNO Primary Health Care Nurses College chair Tracey Morgan says the Coalition Government has "utterly failed" to address the crisis in primary and community care which is leaving New Zealanders unable to see their GPs when they need to. "There is nothing in this Budget to fix the chronic staff shortages that last year resulted in 36% of general practices being unable to take new enrolments. The Government chose not to close the 10% wage gap forcing primary and community care nurses to leave their communities for better paid hospital jobs. "That would have been a $52.3 million investment with research showing the benefits would have been 14-fold. Instead, the Coalition Government has enabled further privatisation of the health system by giving $164 million to mainly Australian-owned urgent care franchises most New Zealanders can't afford to go to. "There is also nothing in this Budget for iwi and Māori health providers who receive the lowest levels of funding in the health system," Tracey Morgan says. NZNO president Anne Daniels says the Coalition Government's estimates it can build new facilities or remediate old ones at four hospitals, increase inpatient beds across New Zealand and fund small-scale infrastructure projects for $1 billion is simply "magical thinking". "The Finance Minister has found her unicorn after all. This is kicking the can down the road for a future government to acknowledge it can't be done. "There is no new operational spending for hospitals. The $1.37 billion for cost pressure funding announced in last year's Budget is not enough to keep the lights on. Our health system is desperately understaffed, and there is no money here to escape the ongoing and entrenched hiring freeze in the sector. "The health system is not over budget as the Government claims. It is under-funded and under-resourced. Patients need health investments based on their care needs, not an arbitrary bottom line. "Nicola Willis was right. This is a no BS Budget - a no basic services Budget," Anne Daniels says.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
History Shows Patients At Risk From Physician Associates
Press Release – New Zealand Nurses Organisation The introduction of physician associates is an unnecessary quick and cheap fix to the doctor shortage when we have a competent and experienced nurse practitioner workforce available to do this work. Avoidable harm caused to patients both in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom shows the introduction of physician associates is a risk to patient safety, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says. Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced that physician associates will be regulated as a new profession in New Zealand. NZNO President Anne Daniels says the introduction of the new, overseas trained workforce, leaves patients vulnerable to misdiagnoses or worse. Similar concerns have also been raised by the Resident Doctors' Association. 'Here in New Zealand there have been concerns physician associates have failed to take a patient's blood pressure, leading to a brain bleed and loss of vision. 'In the United Kingdom where physician associates have been part of the health sector for the past 20 years, there has been a litany of issues including the misdiagnosis of an aggressive breast cancer resulting in the death of a young mother, opiates illegally prescribed, failure to detect a deadly pulmonary embolism and a drain left in a patient's abdomen.' Anne Daniels says nurses are focused on providing the safe, high-quality and culturally appropriate care New Zealanders expect and deserve. 'The introduction of physician associates is an unnecessary quick and cheap fix to the doctor shortage when we have a competent and experienced nurse practitioner workforce available to do this work. The Minister must immediately stop the introduction and regulation of physician associates here,' she says.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
History Shows Patients At Risk From Physician Associates
Avoidable harm caused to patients both in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom shows the introduction of physician associates is a risk to patient safety, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says. Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced that physician associates will be regulated as a new profession in New Zealand. NZNO President Anne Daniels says the introduction of the new, overseas trained workforce, leaves patients vulnerable to misdiagnoses or worse. Similar concerns have also been raised by the Resident Doctors' Association. "Here in New Zealand there have been concerns physician associates have failed to take a patient's blood pressure, leading to a brain bleed and loss of vision. "In the United Kingdom where physician associates have been part of the health sector for the past 20 years, there has been a litany of issues including the misdiagnosis of an aggressive breast cancer resulting in the death of a young mother, opiates illegally prescribed, failure to detect a deadly pulmonary embolism and a drain left in a patient's abdomen." Anne Daniels says nurses are focused on providing the safe, high-quality and culturally appropriate care New Zealanders expect and deserve. "The introduction of physician associates is an unnecessary quick and cheap fix to the doctor shortage when we have a competent and experienced nurse practitioner workforce available to do this work. The Minister must immediately stop the introduction and regulation of physician associates here," she says.
